Contextual Cues in Multiple-Item Recognition

Two experiments were conducted to determine whether performance on a multiple-item recognition (verbal discrimination) list was dependent on contextual cues as has been demonstrated using other memory paradigms. Experiment 1 used two different backgrounds during presentation of the study list. During the recognition task this background was either held constant or varied. The results suggested the context affected the recognition of incorrect items. In Experiment 2 the context variable was list membership. The results indicated that the recognition of list membership was limited to correct items. These results were interpreted in light of current models of multiple-item recognition.