This response to Brainerd and Reyna's paper (in this issue), questions whether output-interference and resource theories can readily be differentiated empirically. Argues that dual-task studies, while important, do not serve as the critical tests of the resources hypothesis. (RH)

Argues that the resources and response competition models discussed by Brainerd and Reyna (in this issue) may not be mutually exclusive, but instead may model different aspects of performance. The problem is not to decide between the two models in general, but rather to determine which aspects of performance are best explained by each. (RH)

High functioning autistic individuals (N=16) were compared with age-matched normal control subjects on a visual recognition matching task. Autistic subjects performed particularly poorly on meaningless material, but were able to utilize meaning to aid their visual memory. Results did not support a simple parallel between autism and mediotemporal…

Used autobiographical memory task to study memory processes and depression in 27 nondepressed and 27 depressed older adults who each recalled 30 memories. Results were consistent with mood congruence hypothesis, in that participants recalled more memories affectively consistent with current mood, and self-enhancement view of reminiscing, such that…

Examines the impact of listeners on speakers' later memory for events. Shows that attentive listeners facilitate long-term memory, whereas situations with distracted listeners are difficult to distinguish from situations with no listener and with no recounting at all. (SR)

Examined the effects of postevent reorganization of events on memory for the original events in 4 experiments involving 319 college students. Results show that biased memory results from the reorganizing schema guiding the retelling perspective and the effects of rehearsing specific information in retelling. (SLD)

Fourier analyses of children's behaviors were conducted over a sequence of five consecutive study/recall trials to identify temporal patterns. Findings pointed to a global strategy in which children learn the items' categories before learning them individually. There was little qualitative difference in temporal organization for second graders and…

A mnemonic is suggested to help evaluators remember the five guiding principles of evaluation developed by the American Evaluation Association. A character from F. Baum's "Wizard of Oz" is associated with each of these: (1) systematic inquiry; (2) competence; (3) respect for people; (4) responsibility to general and public welfare; and…

Reviews three theories of how we retain order in memory and their predictions for errors people make when they recall a sequence incorrectly. A new model of short-term memory is presented, the Start-End Model (SEM), in which the positions of items in a sequence are coded relative to the sequence start and end. (SLD)

Explores the encoding of causal inferences in memory records for texts. Focuses on one class of causal inference: that which links the superordinate goals of characters and the outcomes whereby they are achieved. Suggests that a given superordinate goal inference is represented as a link between the idea units corresponding to the goal and how it…

Informants' reports were compared with death certificates for 328 deceased respondents to determine whether relatives and others can provide valid information about survey respondents' deaths. About two-thirds of the informants accurately reported the complete date of death. Percentage of correct reports varied by relationship between informant…

The first of three studies established the feasibility of using compact disk-interactive (CD-I) with older adults (n=34); a second study ascertained the interest of 74 older adults in learning about memory interventions. In a third study, 24 older adults used a prototype CD-I memory training program. The studies supported the viability of CD-I as…

Proposes an interactive learning model to serve as a psychological foundation for the field of instructional design theory. Topics include complexity theory, cognitive models of learning, cognitive and affective domains, sensory receptors component (memory) and the effects of external stimuli, affects component, cognitive strategies, and knowledge…

Examined association between speech rate and memory span in children from kindergarten to sixth grade. Found that speech rate for word triples shared variance with memory span independent of speech rate for single words. Speech rate for word triples was largely redundant with age in explaining additional variation in memory span when effects of…

Six experiments examined whether there were circumstances in which toddlers could use landmarks for spatial reorientation. Findings confirmed that geometric information is used for reorientation by toddlers, but give reason to doubt that the use of this information is achieved using a module impenetrable to nongeometric information. (Author/KB)