Abolishing the word-length effect

C. Hulme; A.M. Suprenant; T.J. Bireta; G. Stuart; I. Neath

doi:10.1037/0278-7393.30.1.98

Abolishing the word-length effect

C. Hulme, A.M. Suprenant, T.J. Bireta, G. Stuart, I. Neath

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The authors report 2 experiments that compare the recall of long and short words in pure and mixed lists. In pure lists, long words were much more poorly remembered than short words. In mixed lists, this word-length effect was abolished and both the long and short words were recalled as well as short words in pure lists. These findings contradict current models that seek to explain the word-length effect in terms of item-based effects such as difficulty in assembling items, or in terms of list-based accounts of rehearsal speed. An alternative explanation, drawing on ideas of item complexity and item distinctiveness, is proposed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	98-106
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition
Volume	30
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.30.1.98
Publication status	Published - Jan 2004

Keywords

SHORT-TERM-MEMORY
IMMEDIATE SERIAL-RECALL
DISTINCTIVENESS
TIME
RECOGNITION
CAPACITY
SPEECH
DECAY

Access to Document

10.1037/0278-7393.30.1.98

http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0278-7393.30.1.98

Cite this

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title = "Abolishing the word-length effect",

abstract = "The authors report 2 experiments that compare the recall of long and short words in pure and mixed lists. In pure lists, long words were much more poorly remembered than short words. In mixed lists, this word-length effect was abolished and both the long and short words were recalled as well as short words in pure lists. These findings contradict current models that seek to explain the word-length effect in terms of item-based effects such as difficulty in assembling items, or in terms of list-based accounts of rehearsal speed. An alternative explanation, drawing on ideas of item complexity and item distinctiveness, is proposed.",

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T1 - Abolishing the word-length effect

AU - Hulme, C.

AU - Suprenant, A.M.

AU - Bireta, T.J.

AU - Stuart, G.

AU - Neath, I.

PY - 2004/1

Y1 - 2004/1

N2 - The authors report 2 experiments that compare the recall of long and short words in pure and mixed lists. In pure lists, long words were much more poorly remembered than short words. In mixed lists, this word-length effect was abolished and both the long and short words were recalled as well as short words in pure lists. These findings contradict current models that seek to explain the word-length effect in terms of item-based effects such as difficulty in assembling items, or in terms of list-based accounts of rehearsal speed. An alternative explanation, drawing on ideas of item complexity and item distinctiveness, is proposed.

AB - The authors report 2 experiments that compare the recall of long and short words in pure and mixed lists. In pure lists, long words were much more poorly remembered than short words. In mixed lists, this word-length effect was abolished and both the long and short words were recalled as well as short words in pure lists. These findings contradict current models that seek to explain the word-length effect in terms of item-based effects such as difficulty in assembling items, or in terms of list-based accounts of rehearsal speed. An alternative explanation, drawing on ideas of item complexity and item distinctiveness, is proposed.

KW - SHORT-TERM-MEMORY

KW - IMMEDIATE SERIAL-RECALL

KW - DISTINCTIVENESS

KW - TIME

KW - RECOGNITION

KW - CAPACITY

KW - SPEECH

KW - DECAY

U2 - 10.1037/0278-7393.30.1.98

DO - 10.1037/0278-7393.30.1.98

M3 - Article

VL - 30

SP - 98

EP - 106

JO - Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition

JF - Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition

SN - 0278-7393

IS - 1

ER -