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Abstract

The purpose of the research reported in this thesis is to investigate the nature of the modality effect, which is the better recall of final list items following auditory than visual list presentation. The dominant view that the modality effect arises from echoic memory is evaluated by examining several characteristics of the modality effect which appear to run counter to either some or all echoic memory theories.

The experiments can be divided into three main groups. First, the two principal experiments reported in Chapter 2 establish that the modality effect in serial recall of word lists is sensitive to the phono-logical characteristics of the list items. Second, evidence is presented in Chapter 3 which suggests that the modality effect in free recall persists in materially unchanged form for at least 15 seconds. And finally, the results of the experiments reported in the final two experimental chapters, 4 and 5, indicate that the modality effect is non-acoustic in nature. Whereas the first two sets of findings can be readily accommodated by either some or all echoic memory accounts, the results of the third group of experiments represent a major challenge to the notion that the modality effect arises from echoic memory. Chapter 6 summarises the principal experimental findings and their implications for theory and future research.

Publication Type:	Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences
Departments:	Doctoral Theses Doctoral Theses > School of Arts and Social Sciences Doctoral Theses City, University of London (-2022) > School of Arts & Social Sciences School of Arts & Social Sciences

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