Recognition memory and source monitoring

Abstract

This study demonstrates a manipulation that has opposite effects on old/new recognition and source monitoring. Deep processing of target items improved performance on an old/new recognition test in which subjects were to discriminate between targets and new distractors, but it impaired performance on a source monitoring test in which subjects were to discriminate between targets and distractors that had also been deeply processed during the experimental session. We argue that the relationship between old/new recognition and source monitoring varies with the specifics of the situation. The aspects of memories that support recognition judgments are not necessarily the same as those that support source monitoring judgments, and memory performance is the joint product of what is stored in memory and how memory is tested.