Output order and rehearsal in multi-trial free recall

Abstract

Overt rehearsal protocols were collected in a multitrial free recall task. The relationships between rehearsal and serial position showed only minor changes over trials. The probability of recalling an item was observed to be positively correlated with the amount of rehearsal of the item on all trials. The PRNI effect, the priority in recall of newly recalled items, was observed and explained as resulting from a subject-strategy of giving additional rehearsal emphasis to some of those items which had not been recalled on the preceding test. Thus, the PRNI effect was seen as consistent with a general tendency for subjects to recall items in order of strength from strongest to weakest.