FORGET RATE 1 SPECIFICATIONS

(updated 05/05/2005)

Is retention over time affected differently by test vs. study?

Task:

Learn 60 obscure facts à test or re-study opportunity à test retention at 5 min, 1 day, 2 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 42 days.

Stimuli:

Item	Fact	Question	Answer
1	The first calculator, the abacus, came from China.	What is the name of the first calculator, which came from China?	abacus
2	Ceres was the Roman goddess of agriculture.	Ceres was the Roman goddess of what?	agriculture
3	The word "amateur" was eliminated from the Olympic Charter.	What word was eliminated from the Olympic Charter?	amateur
4	The amethyst was Cleopatra's signet.	What gem was Cleopatra's signet?	amethyst
5	Charlie Brown's father was a barber.	What profession was Charlie Brown's father?	barber
6	A Bathometer is used to measure sea depth under a moving vessel.	What is used for measuring sea depth under a moving vessel?	bathometer
7	The background house in the painting "American Gothic" is a brothel.	What is the background house in the painting "American Gothic?"	brothel
8	Buddha is said to have found enlightenment while sitting under a tree.	Who is said to have found enlightenment while sitting under a tree?	Buddha
9	Prior to the bulldog, Yale's mascot was a cat	What was Yale's mascot prior to the bulldog?	cat
10	Knute Rockne taught chemistry at Notre Dame before coaching football.	What did Knute Rockne teach at Notre Dame before coaching football?	Chemistry
11	Booker T. Washington was the first African-American to appear on a coin.	Booker T. Washington was the first African-American to appear on what?	coin
12	Donuts were the only product promoted by Elvis Presley in a TV commercial.	What was the only product promoted by Elvis Presley in a TV commercial?	donuts
13	The Mercalli scale is used to measure damage caused by an earthquake.	The Mercalli scale is used to measure damage caused by what?	earthquake
14	Benjamin Harrison was president when electricity was brought to the White House.	What was brought to the White House when Benjamin Harris was president?	electricity
15	In mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the gods.	In mythology, what did Prometheus steal from the gods?	fire
16	The name of TV detective Baretta's pet cockatoo was Fred.	What was the name of TV detective Baretta's pet cockatoo?	Fred
17	The giraffe was once called a camelopard.	What animal was once called a camelopard?	giraffe
18	The national flower of the United States is the Goldenrod.	What is the national flower of the United States?	Goldenrod
19	Greyhounds have the best eyesight of any dog.	What breed of dog has the best eyesight?	greyhound
20	The first drive-in service station in the U.S. was Gulf.	What was the first drive-in service station in the U.S?	Gulf
21	Moscow's largest department store is named GUM.	What is the name of Moscow's largest deparment store?	GUM
22	A "hamlet" is a group of houses smaller than a village.	What term refers to a group of houses smaller than a village?	hamlet
23	The hippo has killed more people than any other African animal.	What has killed more people than any other African animal?	hippo
24	“Houston” was the working title of the TV series "Dallas.”	What was the working title of the TV series "Dallas"?	Houston
25	Christopher Cockerell invented the hovercraft.	What did Christopher Cockerell invent?	hovercraft
26	Hydrogen is the most common element in the universe.	What is the most common element in the universe?	hydrogen
27	Hypnotism was pioneered by the Austrian physician Dr. Mesmer	What was pioneered by the Austrian physician Dr. Mesmer?	hypnotism
28	The word "bandit" comes from the Italian language.	What language does the word "bandit" come from?	Italian
29	"Jack" is the most commonly-used name in nursery rhymes.	What is the most commonly-used name in nursery rhymes?	Jack
30	The Egyptian god Anubis has the body of a man and the head of a jackal.	The Egyptian god Anibus has the head of what animal?	jackal
31	Francis Scott Key's profession was a lawyer.	What was Francis Scott Key's profession?	lawyer
32	A lion is the animal that appears on the flag of Sri Lanka.	What animal appears on the flag of Sri Lanka?	lion
33	Michigan is the inland state with the longest shoreline.	What inland state has the longest shoreline?	Michigan
34	The state flower of Rhode Island is mistletoe.	What is the state flower of Rhode Island?	mistletoe
35	Selenology is the study of the moon.	What is studied in selenology?	moon
36	Muhammed is the most popular name in the world.	What is the most popular name in the world?	Muhammed
37	The Secret Service code name for Frank Sinatra was Napoleon.	What was the Secret Service code name for Frank Sinatra?	Napoleon
38	The Netherlands was ruled by female monarchs during the 20th century.	What country was ruled by female monarchs during the 20th century?	Netherlands
39	The term "laundry bag" means parachute in Army slang.	What does the term "laundry bag" mean in Army slang?	parachute
40	Fake pearls were once made out of fish scales.	What type of fake jewelry was once made out of fish scales?	pearls
41	Pitch was used to seal the basket that carried baby Moses.	What was used to seal the basket that carried baby Moses?	pitch
42	A plexor is the hammer doctors use to test patients' reflexes.	What is the hammer doctors use to test patients' reflexes?	plexor
43	Nicholas Breakspear was the only Englishman to become Pope.	Nicholas Breakspear was the only Englishman to become what?	Pope
44	In a church, a "galilee" refers to a porch.	In a church, what is a "galilee?"	porch
45	Louis Pasteur developed a vaccine for rabies.	Louis Pasteur developed a vaccine for what condition?	rabies
46	Disney’s dog Pluto was originally called "Rover."	Disney’s dog Pluto was originally called what?	Rover
47	The septum is the body part that separates the nostrils.	What is the body part that separates the nostrils?	septum
48	The word "set" has more definitions than any other English word.	What word has more definitions than any other English word?	set
49	An earthworm perceives light through its skin.	Through what organ does an earthworm perceive light?	skin
50	The game of softball was originally called kitten ball.	What game was originally called kitten ball?	softball
51	Studebaker produced a car called the Dictator.	What car company produced a car called the Dictator?	Studebaker
52	The Swedish version of the Easter Bunny is the Easter Cuckoo.	The Easter Cuckoo is what country' s version of the Easter Bunny?	Sweden
53	The dot over the letter 'i' is called a tittle.	What is the dot over the letter "i" called?	tittle
54	Jules Leotard introduced the trapeze.	What was introduced by Jules Leotard?	trapeze
55	Venus is the only planet in our solar system that rotates clockwise.	What is the only planet in our solar system that rotates clockwise?	Venus
56	Leonardo da Vinci was born in Vinci.	In what village was Leonardo da Vinci born?	Vinci
57	"Water" was the first word "spoken" by Helen Keller.	What was the first word "spoken" by Helen Keller	water
58	The wrinkled flesh on the neck of a turkey is called a wattle.	What is the wrinkled flesh on the neck of a turkey called?	wattle
59	King George VI competed at Wimbledon.	King George VI competed at what professional competition?	Wimbledon
60	Zorro's real name is Don Diego de la Vega.	What character's real name is Don Diego de la Vega?	Zorro

Design:

2 within-subjects trial conditions:

1. Test: fact presented as question à subject covertly recalls one-word answer + feedback

2. Study: fact presented as question and one-word answer provided

6 within-subjects RI conditions:

1. 5 min

2. 1 day

3. 2 days

4. 7 days

5. 14 days

6. 42 days

Items will be randomly assigned to conditions for each subject (5 items per condition):

Item #	Trial Condition	RI Condition
1	Test	5 min
2	Test	1 day
3	Test	2 days
4	Test	7 days
5	Test	14 days
6	Test	42 days
7	Test	5 min
8	Test	1 day
9	Test	2 days
10	Test	7 days
11	Test	14 days
12	Test	42 days
13	Test	5 min
14	Test	1 day
15	Test	2 days
16	Test	7 days
17	Test	14 days
18	Test	42 days
19	Test	5 min
20	Test	1 day
21	Test	2 days
22	Test	7 days
23	Test	14 days
24	Test	42 days
25	Test	5 min
26	Test	1 day
27	Test	2 days
28	Test	7 days
29	Test	14 days
30	Test	42 days
31	Study	5 min
32	Study	1 day
33	Study	2 days
34	Study	7 days
35	Study	14 days
36	Study	42 days
37	Study	5 min
38	Study	1 day
39	Study	2 days
40	Study	7 days
41	Study	14 days
42	Study	42 days
43	Study	5 min
44	Study	1 day
45	Study	2 days
46	Study	7 days
47	Study	14 days
48	Study	42 days
49	Study	5 min
50	Study	1 day
51	Study	2 days
52	Study	7 days
53	Study	14 days
54	Study	42 days
55	Study	5 min
56	Study	1 day
57	Study	2 days
58	Study	7 days
59	Study	14 days
60	Study	42 days

Session 1:

• Presentation phase: Present all 60 facts in sentence format. Each fact presented for 6 sec, followed by blank screen with “continue” button (6 sec per fact x 60 facts = 6 min). Facts presented in new random order for each subject.

• Test condition: Immediately after presentation, present 30 of the facts in question format à subject given 4 sec to covertly recall correct one-word answer, followed by correct answer feedback for 2 sec à blank screen with “continue” button. (6 sec per fact x 30 facts = 3 min).

• Study condition: Immediately after presentation, present the other 30 facts in question + answer format for 6 sec, followed by blank screen with “continue” button (6 sec per fact x 30 facts = 3 min).

• Note: Study and test items are intermixed, and each item is presented in the same order as it was originally presented during presentation phase.

• Distracter phase: 5 min of unrelated filler activity (smiley-face video game task).

• Retention Test 1: Randomly present 5 items each from Test and Study Conditions (10 items total) in question format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 6 sec per fact x 10 facts = 1 min).

Session 2:

• Retention Test 2: 1 day after Retention Test 1, randomly present 5 new items each from Test and Study conditions (10 items total) in question format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 6 sec per fact x 10 facts = 1 min).

Session 3:

• Retention Test 3: 2 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 5 new items each from Test and Study conditions (10 items total) in question format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 6 sec per fact x 10 facts = 1 min).

Session 4:

• Retention Test 4: 7 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 5 new items each from Test and Study conditions (10 items total) in question format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 6 sec per fact x 10 facts = 1 min).

Session 5:

• Retention Test 5: 14 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 5 new items each from Test and Study conditions (10 items total) in question format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 6 sec per fact x 10 facts = 1 min).

Session 6:

• Retention Test 6: 42 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 5 new items each from Test and Study conditions (10 items total) in question format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 6 sec per fact x 10 facts = 1 min).

Total time to complete: 3 min for consent and instructions + Session 1 (18 min) + Session 2 (1 min) + Session 3 (1 min) + Session 4 (1 min) + Session 5 (1 min) + Session 6 (1 min) = 26 min.

Subjects: 100 web-based lottery subjects.

Expected Results:

1. Main effect for trial, such that tested items remembered better than studied items.

2. Main effect for retention interval, such that proportion of items remembered decreases with longer RI’s

3. If intervening tests attenuate forgetting, then the proportion of items forgotten across the four RI’s should be lower for tested items relative to studied items.