Depth of Processing and Text Recall in Adulthood

Abstract

The depth of processing model suggests that incidental learning occurs at various "depths" corresponding to the degree of semantic analysis. Because deep processing is associated with improved recall, and because older adults generally perform at a lower level than younger adults, this model has been applied to aging research. The present study examined the validity of this model by comparing a sample of three German adult age groups with a similar sample in an earlier American study. Specifically, subjects read a 500-word narrative under one of four conditions: (a) a shallow, nonsemantic orienting task; (b) and (c) two deep, semantic orienting tasks; or (d) an intentional condition. Results indicated that, overall, younger adults performed better than older adults, that recall in the intentional condition was significantly better than in the two deep processing conditions, and recall in these conditions was better than in the shallow condition. Cross-sample comparisons and subsequent implications for the validity of the model are discussed.

Self-referent processing and recall of prose.

“…A clearer understanding of the theoretical and practical importance of this approach awaits further research. Research utilizing a variety of different reading materials and subject populations (Dixon & von Eye, 1984, Halpin, Puff, Mason, & Marston, 1984) appears especially promising.…”

Psychological Time: Interval Length Judgments and Subjective Passage of Time Judgments

“…In the shallow/structural level group, the participants were asked to read a text and identify all the words that started with the letter S. The text was printed, written in Times New Roman font, sized 12. In the deep/semantic level group, participants were told to read the same text, to identify all the words that started with the letter S, and to find a synonym for them (Dixon & Eye, 1984).…”

Speed of information processing and working memory as mediators of age differences in prose recall

“…There is, however, little evidence for these assumptions in the literature. Age differences have been found in the recall of prose when recall mode has been oral (Holland & Rabbitt, 1992;Pratt, Boyes, Robins, & Manchester, 1989;Spilich, 1983), or written (Adams, Labouvie-Vief, Hobart, & Dorosz, 1990;Dixon & Von Eye, 1984;Simon, Dixon, Now&, & Hultsch, 1982;Tun, 1989;Zelinski, Light, & Gilewski, 1984). The present study extends this work by manipulating recall mode within the same study, and by attempting to control encoding strategies to reduce the number of influences on age differences in prose recall, thereby possibly enhancing recall mode effects.…”

“…Ambiguities refer to pronouns for which the referent was not clear, and repairs occurred when participants corrected their mistakes (Pratt et al, 1989). Intrusions were propositions that were inconsistent with the text, consmctions were propositions that were consistent with the text but their content or detail was recalled incorrectly, and elaborations were propositions that were consistent with the text but extensions of it (Dixon & von Eye, 1984). Performancemonitoring statements were participants' comments on their performance or about the task.…”