APPARENT FREQUENCY AS A FUNCTION OF FREQUENCY AND SPACING OF REPETITIONS

Presented undergraduates with words in a long series in which some words were repeated. Following presentation, Ss were tested on their ability to remember frequencies of occurrence. 2 types of tests were used: (1) a paired-comparison test in which the more frequent of 2 alternatives was chosen, and (2) an absolute judgment test in which Ss gave numerical frequency judgments. In Exp. I, words were repeated 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10 times. Apparent frequency was a logarithmic function of actual frequency. In Exp. II and III, the spacing or number of items intervening between 2 repetitions was varied (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 items). Apparent frequency increased with spacing. A slight primacy effect was found in all 3 studies. Results were consistent with a 2-stage consolidation theory of memory. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.