Meaningfulness and trigram recognition

Abstract

Recognition, after 1, 3, 6, 15, and 30 intervening events, for CCC and CVC trigrams of low, medium, and high meaningfulness (M) was studied in the Shepard-Teghtsoonian paradigm. Correct recognition varied directly with M and inversely with number of intervening events. False recognition varied inversely with M and increased with total number of presentations. Confidence in correct recognitions varied directly with M and inversely with number of intervening events, but remained stable over the experimental session. Confidence in "new" judgments of new trigrams declined sharply over the experimental session. Evidence is presented to the effect that false recognition is largely item specific and not a matter of general decision criterion.