Keyword Mnemonic And Retention Of 2Nd-Language Vocabulary Words

    Authors

    A. Y. Wang; M. H. Thomas;J. A. Ouellette

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Educ. Psychol.

    Keywords

    Evaluating Forgetting Curves; Language Vocabulary; Verbal Lists; Acquisition; Mnemotechnics; Classroom; Caution; Context; Rates; Psychology, Educational

    Abstract

    Use of the keyword mnemonic has been shown to substantially increase learning speed and immediate recall of 2nd-language vocabulary words in comparison with other learning strategies. Although the majority of researchers examining long-term retention of material acquired through the keyword method have concluded that these gains are maintained over time, most have relied on experimental designs based on within-subject comparisons. However, within-subject comparisons of retention over time are confounded by both rates of initial acquisition and level of immediate recall. In this article data are presented from 4 experiments in which the retention interval (immediate vs. delay) was treated as a between-subjects factor. The findings consistently indicated that long-term forgetting was greater for learners instructed to use the keyword mnemonic than for learners engaged in rote rehearsal. It is suggested that preexperimental associations to keywords interfere with retrieval of the interactive images established in the laboratory.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Educational Psychology

    Volume

    84

    Issue/Number

    4

    Publication Date

    1-1-1992

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    520

    Last Page

    528

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:A1992JZ60300014

    ISSN

    0022-0663

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