Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the level-of-processing effects on the contributions of recollection and familiarity in recognition memory. We manipulated levels of processing(physical processing vs. semantic processing) and stimulus format(word vs. picture) utilizing the process-dissociation procedure. The effects of the two variables were measured by estimating recollection and familiarity in recognition memory. Levels of processing had a significant effect on both estimation of recollection and familiarity. Semantic processing at the study phase increased the estimation of familiarity as well as recollection compared to physical processing. However, the pattern of dissociation among estimation of recollection and familiarity were not identical across levels of processing and stimulus format. Picture stimuli showed higher estimation of recollection than word stimuli in both semantic and physical processing condition. However, picture did not differ from word in terms of estimation of familiarity in the physical processing condition. In contrast, word showed higher estimation of familiarity than picture in the semantic processing condition. The present findings are not consistent the process-dissociation framework which assume that recollection and familiarity are independent and familiarity in recognition mediates perceptual process. The results rather support the proposal that familiarity in recognition may be more sensitive to conceptual processing.