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Encoding specificity: Fact or artifact

1974; Academic Press; Volume: 13; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0022-5371(74)80019-8

1878-4097

John L. Santa, Linda L. Lamwers,

Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes

Two experiments are reported which examined the concept of encoding specificity. The encoding specificity principle suggests that subjects can retrieve information from memory only via cues encoded for retrieval at the time of study. Contrary to the encoding specificity hypothesis both experiments suggested that subjects are able to make use of semantic cues which were not likely to have been encoded at time of study. Contrasts of recognition and recall were also examined. Several theoretical problems were noted in such comparisons, and it was concluded that differences between recall and recognition provide no measure of support for encoding specificity.