Judgments of Learning Reactivity on Item-Specific and Relational Processing

Abstract

Judgments of learning (JOLs) reactivity refers to the finding that the mere solicitation of JOLs modifies subsequent memory performance. One theoretical explanation is the item-specific processing hypothesis, which posits that item-level JOLs redound to the benefit of later memory performance because they enhance item-specific processing. The current study was designed to test this account. We factorially manipulated the organization (blocked vs. randomized) of categorized lists and JOL condition (item-JOLs, list-JOLs, no-JOLs) between participants, and fit the dual-retrieval model to free recall data to pinpoint the underlying memory processes that were affected by JOL solicitation. Our results showed that item-level JOLs produced positive reactivity for randomized but not for blocked categorized lists. Moreover, we found that the positive JOL reactivity for randomized categorized lists was tied to a familiarity judgment process that is associated with gist processing, rather than to item-specific recollective processes. Thus, our results pose a challenge to the item-specific processing explanation of JOL reactivity. We argue that JOL reactivity is not restricted to item-specific processing; instead, whether JOLs predominantly engage participants with item-specific or relational processing depends on the interaction between learning stimuli and JOLs.

Judgments of Learning Reactively Improve Memory by Enhancing Learning Engagement and Inducing Elaborative Processing: Evidence from an EEG Study

“…During the process of word encoding, making JOLs increases the metacognitive monitoring process (Lei et al 2020) and thus enhances learning engagement (Shi et al 2023). Additionally, searching for cues to inform JOL formation also enhances item-specific processing (Chang and Brainerd 2024;Senkova and Otani 2021;Zhao et al 2023aZhao et al , 2023b, thus producing more elaborative processing. Cognitive neural activities related to learning engagement (alpha ERD) and those related to elaborative encoding (LPC amplitude and beta ERD) together contribute to the generation of the positive reactivity effect.…”

“…The interaction between reactivity and level of processing suggests that the reactivity effect may result from the fact that making JOLs induces more elaborative processing. Furthermore, it has been shown that making JOLs promotes item-specific processing of study items, in turn producing superior recall or recognition performance (Chang and Brainerd 2024;Senkova and Otani 2021;Zhao et al 2023aZhao et al , 2023b.…”