In paired-associate paradigms, the lag function is decreasing at very short retention intervals, inverted U-shaped at slightly longer intervals, and monotonically increasing at long intervals¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · causal r? · q2
Currency · newest study 1979 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The shape of the paired-associate lag effect depends on retention interval: decreasing at very short retention intervals, inverted U-shaped at slightly longer intervals, and monotonically increasing at long intervals. → Glenberg 1979

Evidence¶

Glenberg 1979¶

Glenberg, A. M. (1979). Component-levels theory of the effects of spacing of repetitions on recall and recognition. Memory & Cognition, 7(2), 95-112. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03197590

q2 · i? · causal · r?

The review attributes these paired-associate lag-function shapes to Peterson, Hillner, and Saltzman (1962), Peterson et al. (1963), and Glenberg (1976), interpreting distributed practice effects in this paradigm as based on descriptive components. No effect sizes are printed.

"At very short retention intervals, the lag funetion is deereasing (Peterson, Hillner, & Saltzman, 1962). With slightly longer retention intervals, the lag function is an inverted U-shaped function (Peterson et al., 1963). Finally, with long retention intervals, the funetion is monotonically inereasing (Glenberg, 1976)."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Long-Term Memory — outcome: instruction changes it

Related Claims¶

• In continuous recognition memory, the lag function is inverted U-shaped after a short retention interval and monotonically increasing after a long retention interval — related
• ISI effects on recall are nonmonotonic and depend jointly on retention interval — related
• The optimal interstudy interval increases as the retention interval increases — related
• The meaning of theoretical arrows (causal vs predictive, timescale, functional form, magnitude) is unclear, and cross-lagged effect signs can change with assessment intervals — related