Assessing Recognition Memory for Surface Forms in Discourse: A Methodological Note

Two different experimental procedures have been advocated for testing recognition memory for surface forms in discourse. One involves using a reversed-text control group that reverses the roles of recognition targets and distractors. Experiments using this procedure have led some researchers to conclude that surface memory is a fairly robust phenomenon. The alternative procedure, which makes use of a no-text (or guessing) control group, has produced inconsistent results, leading other researchers to question the status of surface memory. The goals of this inquiry are to (a) explore the strengths and weaknesses of each approach, (b) assess alternative explanations for the inconsistency between them, and (c) evaluate the available evidence for better-than-chance recognition of surface forms in discourse.