Title

Learning By The Keyword Mnemonic: Looking For Long-Term Benefits

Authors

Authors

M. H. Thomas;A. Y. Wang

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Exp. Psychol.-Appl.

Keywords

VOCABULARY INSTRUCTION; LANGUAGE VOCABULARY; RETENTION; MEMORY; STRATEGY; MNEMOTECHNICS; IMAGERY; RECALL; PROSE; WORDS; Psychology, Applied

Abstract

Although using the keyword mnemonic to-learn new vocabulary items enhances performance on tests of immediate cued recall when compared with control strategies, the reverse is true after a delay. The authors examined long-term retention of second language vocabulary with 2 variants of the keyword method: self-generated keywords (Experiment 1) and mnemonic pictures (Experiment 2). Results showed that keyword generation did not attenuate forgetting, but provision of pictures of the keyword and translation referent during study improved long-term retention. Pictures may increase the visual detail of interactive images and hence the stability of the memory trace (Experiment 3). However, designers of instructional modules should be aware that immediate gains evidenced by learners who use the standard keyword technique may dissipate rapidly.

Journal Title

Journal of Experimental Psychology-Applied

Volume

2

Issue/Number

4

Publication Date

1-1-1996

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Language

English

First Page

330

Last Page

342

WOS Identifier

WOS:A1996VZ43200003

ISSN

1076-898X

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