Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
Cognitive theorists hypothesize two types of cognitive processes
(e.g., automatic and effortful) which may influence human information
processing. This thesis investigates age differences in when children
use intralist associative relationships (thought to be automatic in
nature) to identify other (categorical) relations. Use of conceptual/
categorical relations to organize recall is thought to be effortful in
nature. Sixty children each from grades 3, 5, 7, and 9 were presented
orally with lists of 20 words under free-recall instructions. Results
provide support for the position that recall memory of young children
is mediated primarily by associative rather than conceptual
relationships. Also, partial support was obtained for the three stage model of the development of organization proposed by Bjorklund and
Zeman (1982). However, the model's prediction of when children will
optimally use associative relationships to identify categorized
relations was inaccurate. These results indicate that older childrens'
recall can be facilitated by automatic cognitive processes resulting in
higher levels of clustering (organization) and recall.
(e.g., automatic and effortful) which may influence human information
processing. This thesis investigates age differences in when children
use intralist associative relationships (thought to be automatic in
nature) to identify other (categorical) relations. Use of conceptual/
categorical relations to organize recall is thought to be effortful in
nature. Sixty children each from grades 3, 5, 7, and 9 were presented
orally with lists of 20 words under free-recall instructions. Results
provide support for the position that recall memory of young children
is mediated primarily by associative rather than conceptual
relationships. Also, partial support was obtained for the three stage model of the development of organization proposed by Bjorklund and
Zeman (1982). However, the model's prediction of when children will
optimally use associative relationships to identify categorized
relations was inaccurate. These results indicate that older childrens'
recall can be facilitated by automatic cognitive processes resulting in
higher levels of clustering (organization) and recall.
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