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The Effect of Word Frequency and Dual Tasks on Memory for Presentation Frequency

abstract: Frequency effects favoring high print-frequency words have been observed in frequency judgment memory tasks. Healthy young adults performed frequency judgment tasks; one group performed a single task while another group did the same task while alternating their attention to a secondary task (mathematical equations). Performance was assessed by correct and error responses, reaction times, and accuracy. Accuracy and reaction times were analyzed in terms of memory load (task condition), number of repetitions, effect of high vs. low print-frequency, and correlations with working memory span. Multinomial tree analyses were also completed to investigate source vs. item memory and revealed a mirror effect in episodic memory experiments (source memory), but a frequency advantage in span tasks (item memory). Interestingly enough, we did not observe an advantage for high working memory span individuals in frequency judgments, even when participants split their attention during the dual task (similar to a complex span task). However, we concluded that both the amount of attentional resources allocated and prior experience with an item affect how it is stored in memory. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.S. Speech and Hearing Science 2013

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:asu.edu/item:17896
Date January 2013
ContributorsPeterson, Megan Paige (Author), Azuma, Tamiko (Advisor), Gray, Shelley (Committee member), Liss, Julie (Committee member), Arizona State University (Publisher)
Source SetsArizona State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeMasters Thesis
Format58 pages
Rightshttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/, All Rights Reserved

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