Metacognition and learning about primacy and recency effects in free recall:The utilization of intrinsic and extrinsic cues when making judgments of learning

摘要

Although memory researchers know about primacy and recency effects, it is unclear' whether students are aware of these effects and incorporate them when making judgments of learning (JOLs). The present research examined how participants use serial position information (extrinsic cues) when making JOLs after studying each item and snowed that participants rely on the intrinsic qualities of the items and underestimate primacy and recency effects. However, when participants made JOLs prior to studying each item and engaged in multiplestudy-test sessions, their JOLs accurately reflected recall, as well as when serial position information was explicitly provided during the study phase. The findings are interpreted in a cue utilization framework and suggestthat under certain conditions, participants can predict primacy and recency effects.