Connotative evaluation and concreteness shifts in short-term memory.

Abstract

Encoding processes were investigated using the release from proactive inhibition (PI) paradigm with word triads derived from the factorial manipulation of evaluative connotation (E) and concreteness (C). The recall data indicated significant PI buildup for all EXC conditions with less PI for concrete vs. abstract triads while no differential PI for good vs. bad triads. Proactive inhibition release was found for shifts on either E or C, or both, compared to their appropriate no-shift controls only when postshift items were abstract. For postshift abstract items, simultaneous shifts on E and C produced better recall than shifts on C only, but not better than shifts on E only. The data were evaluated in terms of a dual encoding mechanism for concrete word items and Paivio and Begg's offsetting interference hypothesis.