Effects of Word Frequency on Acquisition and Retention under Conditions of Free-recall Learning

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of word frequency on acquisition and retention under conditions of free-recall learning. Three levels of frequency—high (HF), medium (MF) and low (LF)—were compared. Original learning consisted of four study-test cycles. A test of retention was given either 30 sec. or 7 days after the end of original learning and was followed by three cycles of relearning. List HF was learned and retained better than lists MF and LF; the latter two did not differ. Degrees of sequential organization in original learning increased with word frequency, as did the persistence on the tests of retention of the output orders which had occurred at the end of acquisition. For subjects learning a given type of list, however, there was little relation between degree of sequential ordering and amount of recall.