Subjective organization and list organization as determinants of free-recall and serial-recall memorization

Two experiments investigated the relation between three independent variables—S's tendency toward subjective organization, preferred vs. nonpreferred sequence of presentation, and free vs. serial recall—and the memorization of a serially presented list of 16 unrelated English words. The results indicated that, under conditions of free recall, high organizers learned both orders of presentation equally well, but the recall performance of poor organizers was facilitated by the preferred order of presentation. Under serial-recall instructions, the order of presentation affected both types of organizers, but high organizers achieved better performance scores than did low organizers-within each order-of-presentation category. These results were discussed in terms of the relative efficiency of serial-recall as opposed to free-recall memorization, and in terms of the general applicability of subjective organization as an individual difference in “learning ability.”