True and false memories in the DRM paradigm on a forced choice test

Abstract

Participants studied lists of semantic associates that converged on a non-presented critical word (e.g., sleep; Deese, 1959; Roediger & McDermott, 1995) and took a two-alternative forced choice test. At test, each critical non-presented word was paired with a studied word from the same list. The test was administered either immediately or 7 days after the study phase. Accuracy in distinguishing between the non-presented critical word and the studied list word was above chance at immediate testing. After a 7-day retention interval, however, accuracy did not differ from chance performance: participants were as likely to choose the non-presented critical word as the studied list word.

Keywords:

• False memory
• Forced choice tests

Notes

¹Participants in this experiment also studied and were tested on lists of unrelated words, but these are not relevant to the discussion.