English Abstracts
• ⅛√⅛‰ΛΛn√WVWV‰∕VWW¾ΛΛ√VbΛ√W⅛W¾⅛ry⅝Λr⅛AΛn>l ∙
AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF CATE-
GORY EFFECT IN SHORT-TERM MEMORY
RETRIEVAL
Wang Su, Li Hong
( Department c' Psychology, IJeijing Uoiversity )
Sternberg's varied-set procedure was
used for this experiment study to study the
short-term memory retrieval from one- and
two-category memory sets made up of
Chinese words. The retrieval RT of two-
category sets was not found to be faster
than that of one-category sets no matter
whether the instruction of using the cate-
gorizational processing strategy was given to
the subjects or not. But the retrieval accu-
racy of two-category sets was higher than
that of one-category sets. Such results are
different from the category effect recorded
in documents. It is proposed that the cate-
gory effect of short-term memory retrieval
may not only manifest in retrieval RT, but
also in retrieval accuracy. The cause of such
an effect is also discussed.
TWO FUNDAMENTAL FACTORS AF-
FECTING THE CONCEPT DIFFICULTY
Shao Zhifang1 Yang Zilian
(Psychology Department, East China Normal
University )
On the basis of the improved materials,
many factors affecting the concept difficulty
were generalized as the following two fun-
damental factors, attribute saliency (AS) and
attribute frequency (AF). The more salient
• 64 ∙
the relevant attribute, or the more fre-
quent it appears In the positive exam pies, the
easier the concent, and vice versa. When
the A-S or AF of an irrelevant attribute is
greater, it will disturb the correct concept
formation. In addition, a somewhat strange
result was noticed that at least when there
are only 2—3 relevant attributes, the number
of AS does not affect the concept difficul-
ty.
CHILDREN'S INTERPRETATION OF DI-
RECT DIRECTIVES AND INDIRECT
DIRECTIVES
Sang Biao, Miao Xiaochun
( Department of Psychology, East China Nor-
mal University )
This study aimed to explore the age
characteristics of children's Interpretatin of
direct directives,conventional indirect direc-
tives and nonconventional indirect direc-
tives. 72 children aged 4, 5 and 6 were ex-
amined by means of pictures in which these
three types of directives were involved. The
results showed that the interpretation of all
these directives increased with agej children
felt it more difficult to interpret indirect
directives than direct directives. 6-year-old
subjects were able to interpret and respond
correctly all three types of directives, The
interpretation-affecting factors, such as
sudject's cognitive level,methods and crite-
ria used in the research and the situation to
which the directives related, were discussed
© 1994-2006 China Academic Journal Electronic Publishing House. All rights reserved, http://www.cnki.net