Pronunciation effects in verbal discrimination learning

Previous research has found that spoken rehearsal is superior to silent rehearsal during verbal discrimination (VD) learning. Frequency theory can account for this finding if it is assumed that pronunciation leads to an even greater frequency differential between the correct and incorrect item in each pair than occurs in silent performance. Support was found for this assumption in 2 experiments in which an incidental recognition memory task was administered to a total of 80 college students after verbal discrimination learning. Further, in contrast with earlier research, it was found that the increased frequency differential was due at least as much to increased recognition of the previously correct VD items as to decreased recognition of the previously incorrect items. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).