Are Superficially Dissimilar Analogs better retrieved than Superficially Similar Disanalogs?

• Published in: Acta psychologica 2020-02, Vol.203, p.102989-102989, Article 102989
• Main Authors: Raynal, Lucas, Clément, Evelyne, Sander, Emmanuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstract encoding; Analogical retrieval; Analogy; Cognitive science; Psychology; Story-recall task; Structural similarity
• ISSN: 0001-6918; 1873-6297
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2019.102989

In the present study, we tested the assumption that structural similarity overcomes surface similarity in the retrieval of past events, by observing whether structural similarity alone is a better cue than surface similarity alone. To do so, in four story-recall experiments, we provided the participants with multiple source stories and then with a target cue story. This target cue only shared either surface or structural similarity with the source stories. In Experiment 1A, a Superficially Similar Disanalog source story (SSD) and a Superficially Dissimilar Analog source story (SDA) were presented among Superficially Dissimilar Disanalog source stories (SDDs). A soundness rating task was used in Experiment 1B to control the absence of structural similarity among the SSDs presented in Experiment 1A. In Experiment 2, the number of SSDs was increased in the aim to reproduce more ecological conditions. In two further experiments, a five minute (Experiment 3) and a 45 minute (Experiment 4) delay was introduced, and supplementary source stories were presented, in order to make the study more similar to previous story-recall paradigms. The results of the four story-recall experiments support the dominance of structural over surface similarities in analogical retrieval. The role of a structurally-based access regarding the retrieval of Superficially Similar Analogs (SSAs) and SDAs is discussed, as well as the factors underlying the rare occurrence of SDAs retrievals in previous experiments. •Dissociating surface and structure similarities permits to assess their influence on retrieval.•Analogical retrieval is predominantly driven by structural similarity.•Surface similarity fails to drive retrieval when separated from structural similarity.•Rare occurrence of structural retrievals in previous experiments is misleading.