Intralist organization and subsequent free recalls

Trained 30 undergraduates to overtly rehearse, either forward or backward, every 3 consecutive input words during list presentation. Ss were later asked to free recall the whole list. Relative to the performance of the 15 ordinary free recall Ss, the 2 intralist organization procedures had a beneficial effect only on the last 3 serial positions, but had a detrimental effect elsewhere when the immediate free recall was considered. Furthermore, in the delayed recall, they had a detrimental effect over every serial position. The role of grouping in free recall is discussed from an organizational viewpoint. It is concluded that "free" rehearsal during acquisition was the basic principle for organization in "free" recall. (20 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).