The effects of delayed auditory feedback and intralist similarity in short-term memory

Three studies are reported in which Ss heard items under delayed or immediate auditory feedback (DAF, IAF). In Exp. I associatively similar lists were used in an attempt to limit the use of associative cues, thus forcing the S to rely on acoustic cues. The hypothesized decrement at recall under DAF as compared to IAF was not found. In Exp. II acoustically similar lists of words were used with two presentation rates. Acoustic similarity had an adverse effect on recall in Primary Memory. Presentation rate was an important variable only in Secondary Memory. Experiment III separated visual and acoustic similarity by using letters. Again the acoustic decrement at recall was found. Visual similarity had no effect. A DAF effect was not found in Exp. II or III. The results are discussed in terms of the loss of articulatory cues being the crucial factor determining the acoustic effect. Further, criterion shifts rather than differential decay may account for the effect of acoustic similarity.