RETRIEVAL ASYMMETRY IN RECALL OF ADJECTIVES AND NOUNS

Reports 3 experiments in which undergraduate Ss were given a 1-trial study-test paired-associate task and instructed that either word of each pair might be given as the cue for recall. If associations are symmetrical, the probability of correct recall should be independent of the word given as the cue. In Exp. I, 2 lists of adjective-concrete noun pairs were used. Results showed recall to be independent of presentation order but superior when cued with the noun. Exp. II showed this symmetry effect to be a consequence of the relative abstractness of adjectives rather than of grammatical factors. This conclusion was supported by a further experiment in which no asymmetry was obtained when adjectives were paired with abstract nouns. Results were consistent with an interpretation in terms of the differential retrieval cues provided by abstract and concrete stimuli. (18 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.