Decomposing serial learning: What is missing from the learning curve?

Our current understanding of serial learning relies on the form of the learning curve and on changes in the serial position curve over repeated study-test trials (Ward, 1937). The averaging of data that produces these functions obscures the detailed history of memory for individual items over the co...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychonomic bulletin & review 2004-02, Vol.11 (1), p.118-124
Main Authors: ADDIS, Kelly M, KAHANA, Michael J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cognition & reasoning
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Human
Humans
Learning
Learning curves
Learning. Memory
Memory
Mental Recall
Models, Psychological
Psychology
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
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Summary:Our current understanding of serial learning relies on the form of the learning curve and on changes in the serial position curve over repeated study-test trials (Ward, 1937). The averaging of data that produces these functions obscures the detailed history of memory for individual items over the course of study-test trials. Extending Tulving's (1964) analysis of free recall learning, we present a new analysis of serial learning that tracks the acquisition and forgetting of item and order information at the level of individual items. Applying this analysis to two large data sets on serial list learning allows us to discern among hypotheses that are indistinguishable solely on the basis of the learning curve.
ISSN:1069-9384
1531-5320
DOI:10.3758/BF03206470