Single-item recognition following a verbal discrimination study trial

Abstract

A verbal discrimination (VD) study phase was followed by a single-item (i.e., one item at a time) test phase. Prior right (R) items from the VD list were found to have higher old-new hit rates on the test phase than prior wrong (W) items. However, prior W items had higher hit rates than prior R items in terms of recognition of their intrapair function. These results were interpreted in terms of a high criterion model whereby an old test item must prossess a large number of frequency units before it is identified as being R. In addition, false recognition effects were demonstrated for new test items that were homophones of prior R items, but not for new test items that were homophones of prior W items. These results were interpreted in terms of a feature analytic extension of frequency theory.Both Erlebacher, Hill, and Wallace (1967) and Radtke and Foxman (1969) compared postcriterial recognition for wrong (W) and right (R) items on a verbal discrimination (VD) task, and found recognition to be substantially higher for R than for Witems (e.g., 99%vs 87% in the Erlebacher et al study). Recognition in these studies simply required old-new discriminations for old items (R and W) and new items. A correlated, but unexplored, question concerns S's further ability to discriminate between old items on the basis of their intrapair function (i.e., R or W). The present study introduced a methodology for testing the accuracy of functional, as well as old-new, discriminations. The Ss were given a standard study phase on a VD list and then a test phase in which items were exposed individually. Some of the test items were new (i.e., were not in the prior VD list) while the other items were either old R items or old W items. The S then decided whether they had functioned previously as R or W in the VD list.Predictions from frequency theory (Underwood, 1972) are clear regarding the effect of prior intrapair function on old item recognition. Old-new discriminations are based on the presence of situational response frequencies to old items, but not to new. Since the average number of units accrued to R items is greater than that for W items, discriminability from zero situational frequency should be greater for R than for W items. The earlier item recognition studies agree with this prediction, and there is no reason to predict otherwise in the single trial situation.

Developmental trends in item recognition following a verbal discrimination study trial

“…These hit rates were analyzed by a 2 by 2 within-subject analysis of variance, with study list function (right or wrong) and grade level as the variables. The analysis yielded significant main effects (MSe = .02) for item function [F(I ,87) = 61 .00, The greater hit rate for prior right items than for prior wrong items replicates the results found with young adult subjects (e.g., Kausler et al, 1975;Kausler & Yadrick, 1977) and is in agreement with the results predicted by the signal detection version of frequency theory. That is , right items accrue more responses than wrong items and, therefore, have a greater proportion of their total number exceeding the criterion for mediating old-new decisions.…”

“…The subject's task is to identify the oldness or newness of each test item . Kausler et al (1975) conceptualized item recognition in terms of signal detection concepts. Briefly, during a single verbal discrimination study trial, variability in frequency units accruing to both right and wrong items is assumed to result in the generation of partially overlapping distributions of frequency units for wrong and right items.…”

Effects of the number of study trials on single-item recognition following verbal discrimination learning

“…In situations involving multiple study trials, this should serve to increase the difference between the three distributions proposed by Kausler et al (1975). Thus, as study intervals increase, recognition of correct items should proceed at a faster rate than recognition of incorrect items.…”

“…Radtke and Foxman found that recognition of correct items was essentially perfect in both conditions, while recognition of incorrect items was superior in the two-alternative situation. The authors interpreted these results as supportive of frequency theory.Recently, Kausler, Pavur, and Yadrick (1975) applied signal detection theory to verbal discrimination learning. This method allows the experimenter to determine the criterion used by subjects in old-new recognition.…”

“…Recently, Kausler, Pavur, and Yadrick (1975) applied signal detection theory to verbal discrimination learning. This method allows the experimenter to determine the criterion used by subjects in old-new recognition.…”