Phillip N. Goernert

The Initiation and Release of Retrieval Inhibition

Abstract Subjects free recalled or were cued with either four or eight retrieval cues in a modified directed-forgetting study. A directed-forgetting effect was observed for free but not cued recall. In addition, the same cues that initiated blocking for “remember” words were observed to release the suppression for “forget” words. An explanation of the differential effect of experimenter-provided retrieval cues on the retrieval of remember and forget words is provided.

Is there hypermnesia and reminiscence for information intentionally forgotten

Memory performance was examined across consecutive tests in three directed-forgetting experiments. Following word-method or list-method cueing to forget, significant directed forgetting was observed for all tests: Free recall for remember cue words always exceeded free recall for forget cue words. Moreover, following either cueing method, similar magnitudes of hypermnesia (improved free recall across tests) and reminiscence (recovery of words across tests) were observed for both word types. Regardless of cueing method, after an initial free recall test, the level of recovery for both word types did not differ significantly. That is, directed forgetting was not observed for the reminiscence data. Taken together, the pattern of results suggest that cues to forget impair the encoding of information but, after an initial memory test, they do not interrupt the accessing of that information. These findings are consistent with the selective rehearsal account but not the retrieval inhibition account of directed forgetting.

The Antecedents of Retrieval Inhibition

Abstract The subjects were given one of three types of retrieval tests—free-recall, part-list cued-recall, or part-set cued-recall—in a modified directed-remembering study. A directed-remembering effect occurred for free-recall but not for cued-recall, and a blocking effect occurred with “remember” words but not with “forget” words. These results suggested that the same retrieval cues that initiate blocking may alter the impact of the directed-remembering effect.

The Role of Intentional Forgetting in Employee Selection

Abstract The authors examined the effects of forbidden information on the employee-selection process. They presented the participants with 4 applicants for the position of cashier-stockperson. One of the applicants (the Target Applicant) provided a mixture of forbidden and job-relevant information; the remaining applicants gave no forbidden information. Some of the participants were told before they reviewed the applicants what types of information were to be considered as forbidden, and they were instructed to disregard any such information in the applications. The remaining participants were not aware of the presence of the forbidden information, nor were they instructed to disregard such information. The participants who were instructed to disregard the forbidden information rated the Target Applicant more favorably than did those who were not aware of its presence. Moreover, those in the disregard condition recalled less of the forbidden information and more of the job-relevant information about the Target Applicant than did those in the no-instruction condition. These data patterns support laboratory-based studies on intentional forgetting.

MindLab: A software tool for integrating interactive microcomputer exercises into the classroom

In this article, 1 review the MindLab software program (Bharucha, 1990) and present procedures for using it to create two classroom memory experiments. Both experiments highlight MindLabs versatility and. illustrate how an instructor uses MindLab in a classroom setting. Students report that participation in the experiments enhances their understanding of each illustrated memory phenomenon.

The Effect of Active Noise Reduction Technology on Noise Induced Pilot Fatigue and Associated Cognitive Performance Decrements

Fatigue in the general aviation cockpit is caused by a variety of factors including cockpit noise. Active Noise Reduction (ANR) headsets have been proposed as a method to decrease cockpit noise and thereby decrease fatigue and the cognitive performance decrements associated with fatigue. The present study contrasted the subjective fatigue and cognitive performance of Certified Flight Instructors (CFI) during a day of in-air flight instruction with ANR headsets versus conventional headsets. CFIs exhibited increased subjective fatigue and a pattern of more rapid but less accurate cognitive performance at the end of an instructional day. However, subjective fatigue and cognitive performance changes did not differ as a function of type of headset worn. The results suggest that subjective fatigue increases and cognitive performance changes occur during a day of flying but they provide no evidence that the use of ANR headsets modify these changes.

The Effect of Levels of Automation on Supervisory Performance in a Multi-Task Environment

Supervisors of highly automated systems monitor the performance of numerous sub-systems and intervene only when a sub-system fails. Such intervention, or fault management, requires the collection of information from multiple, dispersed, data sources. Fault management is supported by automated data monitoring, data location, and response recommendations following sub-system failure. The present study compared fault management across various levels of automated information management in a multi-task environment. In Experiment 1, participants presented simple problems and relatively ineffective assistance, continued to consult the primary data displays with little performance improvement and no automation bias. In Experiment 2, when required to manage more complex data with an apparently reliable decision aid, performance was not improved by the decision aid but responses to false alarms increased. Workload assessed by performance on concurrent tasks did not decrease in either experiment.

Computer-Assisted Test Administration: Establishing Equivalency of Two Mood Measures

Computer-based testing techniques are prevalent in the assessment of human performance attributes. Equivalence and convergence of two affectivity measures commonly used in human pcrformance assessment were examined. The two measures included a 65-item traditional paper and pencil measure, the Profile of Mood States (POMS), and a the 36-item computer-assisted test. the Mood Scale 2 (MS2). Using a sample of 30 college students (26 female and 4 male). correlations and Principal Components Analysis were conducted on the 6 subscales of the POMS and the 6 subscales of the MS2. The subscale correlation matrix indicated moderate to high csrrelations between similrariiy named subscales of the two measures. Principal. components analysis of the subscales resulted in the retention of three factors, accounting for 74.1% of the total variance Interpretation of the components supported the existence of three underlying dimensions. DepressnodAngcr SEositEiw Mectivity, and Overwhelmed. Results provide important preliminary evidence for test convergence since conceptually similar POMS and MS2 subscales load together across the 3 components. Results suggest the MS2 to be equivalent to the more established POMS measure, and may be desirable if a computerized assessment technique is needed. Future research should continue examining the psychometric characteristics, as well as user reactions, with the transfer of assessments from a paper and pencil format to computer-assisted testing.

Predicting Performance Variability: The Accuracy of Vigor and Fatigue Self-Reports

The psychological factors that contribute to performance decrements were examined. Collegiate swimmers self-reported psychological moods states four days prior to competition across multiple seasons. As expected, event time decreased as the season progressed. Event times also decreased when fatigue scores decreased. Tension, Depression, Anger, Vigor, and Confusion scores were not related to meet time. The present results suggest that self-reports are a useful predictor of performance decrements under some conditions.