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The effects of noise on recall of lists of associated words

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Abstract

An experiment investigated the effect of noise on recall of lists consisting of pairs of strong and weak associates. Noise improved recall (both number recalled and organization of recall) and did so with both types of list. The subjects who were initially tested in noise continued to show better recall and organization of recall even when they were transferred to the quiet condition. This finding shows that noise may reinforce the use of the dominant strategy and that this strategy may be used more in noise when experimental conditions are changed and even when the subject is transferred from the noise to the quiet.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Perceptual & Cognitive Performance Unit, Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, University of Sussex, BN1 9QG, Brighton, U.K.

    Andrew P. Smith

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  1. Andrew P. Smith
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This research was supported by a grant from the Social Science Research Council.

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Smith, A.P. The effects of noise on recall of lists of associated words. Current Psychology 4, 17–21 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686562

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