Multinomial Runs Tests to Detect Clustering in Constrained Free Recall

Abstract

Psychologists often want to detect category structure in subjects' free recall protocols. Although runs tests based on the binomial distribution are commonly used to detect nonrandomness within a sequence, many research situations require tests based on the multinomial distribution. We propose a test of randomness versus clustering based on the number of runs in multinomial data. We illustrate its use with data from a mass communication experiment using a constrained free recall procedure.