Reciprocal facilitation and impairment of free recall

Abstract

Three experiments were performed to investigate the effect of facilitating free recall of a subset of items on recall of the remaining items of the set. The facilitation was induced by giving an E Group 5 min in which to study a list of items forming the subset Sets used were the States of the U.S.A. and the Counties of England. Immediately following the period of study, both groups attempted free recall of all the set. List study facilitated recall of list items but impaired recall of nonlist items.