The effects of overt intralist retrieval on subsequent free recall

Twenty Ss learned five 12-word lists. Following the immediate free recall of the fifth list, the Ss were asked to recall and recognize all the 60 words in the previous lists. The Ss in the experimental group were instructed to study each presented word carefully and, after the presentation of every 3 words, to overtly recall the preceding 3 words. Although this intralist retrieval procedure provides a basis for grouping, it has a detrimental effect not only on item accessibility, but also on item availability. A “removal property” of short-term memory was proposed as the locus of this effect. In addition, examination of the response pattern of the final free recall shows that the differential rehearsal interpretation proposed by Cohen (1970) is inappropriate.