Abstract

The relative distance, RD, which was defined as a function of the strength of primary associate and the gradient factor of successive association-hierarchy, was proposed to reflect meaningfulness of a word. Immediate free recall of words was measured. In experiment I, in which the primary strength was constant and the RD varied, showed a significantly greater amount of recall in the near RD lists than in the remote ones. Experiment II also revealed the RD effect upon free recall of words in which primary strength was varied and the Noble's m was held constant. In experiment III, free recall order of paired-associate lists was examined, and recall of near items was prior to that of remote items regardless of the presentation order of remote or near RD. An item's availability as a function of RD and its role in the recall process of item pairs were discussed.