ERIC Number: EJ931827
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Oct
Pages: 30
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0033-295X
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Available Date: N/A
A Continuous Dual-Process Model of Remember/Know Judgments
Wixted, John T.; Mickes, Laura
Psychological Review, v117 n4 p1025-1054 Oct 2010
The dual-process theory of recognition memory holds that recognition decisions can be based on recollection or familiarity, and the remember/know procedure is widely used to investigate those 2 processes. Dual-process theory in general and the remember/know procedure in particular have been challenged by an alternative strength-based interpretation based on signal-detection theory, which holds that remember judgments simply reflect stronger memories than do know judgments. Although supported by a considerable body of research, the signal-detection account is difficult to reconcile with G. Mandler's (1980) classic "butcher-on-the-bus" phenomenon (i.e., strong, familiarity-based recognition). In this article, a new signal-detection model is proposed that does not deny either the validity of dual-process theory or the possibility that remember/know judgments can--when used in the right way--help to distinguish between memories that are largely recollection based from those that are largely familiarity based. It does, however, agree with all prior signal-detection-based critiques of the remember/know procedure, which hold that, as it is ordinarily used, the procedure mainly distinguishes strong memories from weak memories (not recollection from familiarity). (Contains 2 footnotes, 3 tables, and 14 figures.)
Descriptors: Memory, Recognition (Psychology), Recall (Psychology), Familiarity, Cues, Models, Decision Making, Theories
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
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Language: English
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