Levels of Processing Effects on the Immediate and Delayed Recall of Prose

Abstract

Levels of processing is an explanatory framework which postulates that differences in memorial processing quality and/or effort affect the duration of the memory trace. Using recall (immediate, one week, two week) for connected discourse processed under three semantic and three orthographic interference conditions as well as a “normal” control, hypotheses of superior delayed recall for semantic processing conditions and “reversals” from immediate to delayed recall were tested. Results were consistent with a semantic elaboration notion, but the reversals suggested by the other studies (e. g., Pellegrino, Siegel & Dhawan) were not found to be statistically reliable. Alternative hypotheses are considered.