Word length effects in long-term memory

Article

Tehan, Gerald and Tolan, Georgina Anne. 2007. "Word length effects in long-term memory." Journal of Memory and Language. 56 (1), pp. 35-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.206.08.015
Article Title

Word length effects in long-term memory

ERA Journal ID6433
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsTehan, Gerald (Author) and Tolan, Georgina Anne (Author)
Journal TitleJournal of Memory and Language
Journal Citation56 (1), pp. 35-48
Number of Pages14
Year2007
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISSN0749-596X
1096-0821
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jml.206.08.015
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749596X06001203
Abstract

The word length effect has been a central feature of theorising about immediate memory. The notion that short-term memory traces rapidly decay unless refreshed by rehearsal is based primarily upon the finding that serial recall for short words is better than that for long words. The decay account of the word length effect has come under pressure in recent times. The current research tests alternative explanations of the word length effect, ones that suggest firstly, that word length effects should be found in long-term memory tasks. Secondly, one alternative predicts that the standard short-word advantage should only be observed in tasks in which participants use serial order memory. In tasks where only item memory is used, the approach predicts a long word advantage. Consistent with this notion, standard word length effects were found in long-term serial recall and free recall tasks, but a long word advantage was found in item recognition and cued recall tasks.

Keywordsword length, long-term memory, item-order
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520102. Educational psychology
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Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Psychology
Australian Catholic University
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