FORGET RATE ITEM 1 SPECIFICATIONS

(updated 07/07/2005)

 

Task:

 

Learn 48 facts, 48 name-face pairs, and 48 obscure city-state pairs à test retention at 5 min, 1 day, 2 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days.

 

Facts Stimuli:

 

Item

Fact

Question

Answer

1

Marion Donovan patented the disposable diaper.

Marion Donovan patented what disposable product?

Diaper

2

The first winter Olympics were held in France.

In what country were the first winter Olympics held?

France

3

The working title of the TV show "Dynasty" was "Oil".

What was the working title of the TV show "Dynasty"?

Oil

4

George Washington's nickname for his wife Martha was Patsy.

What was George Washington's nickname for his wife Martha?

Patsy

5

Pears are a member of the rose family

What fruit is a member of the rose family?

Pear

6

The first name of TV’s Lieutenant Colombo was Phillip.

What was the first name of TV’s Lieutenant Colombo?

Phillip

7

The Carthaginians used snakes to defeat the Romans in 3 B.C.

What did the Carthaginians use to defeat the Romans in 3 B.C.?

Snakes

8

"Playboy" magazine was once called "Stag Party".

What magazine was once called "Stag Party?"

Playboy

9

The Secret Service code name for Barbara Bush was Tranquility.

What was the Secret Service code name for Barbara Bush?

Tranquility

10

A "gam" is a collection of whales.

A "gam" is a collection of what?

Whales

11

P.T. Barnum opened the first public aquarium in the U. S.

What public attraction was first opened in the U. S. by P. T. Barnum?

Aquarium

12

Sarah Bernhardt was the first actress to wear trousers.

Sarah Bernhardt was the first actress to wear what?

Trousers

13

Scraps is the name of the dog that appeared in Charlie Chaplin films.

What is the name of the dog that appeared in Charlie Chaplin films?

Scraps

14

A Studebaker was the only car that Ralph Nader ever owned.

What is the only car that Ralph Nader ever owned?

Studebaker

15

Other than Earth, the only planet named after a Greek god is Uranus.   

Other than Earth, what is the only planet named after a Greek god?

Uranus

16

The oldest church bells in the U. S. are in Boston.

In what city are the oldest churchbells in the U. S.?

Boston

17

The cat was the ancient Roman symbol of liberty.

The cat was the ancient Roman symbol of what?

Liberty

18

The military draft was enacted in 1863.

In what year was the military draft enacted?

1863

19

George Orwell’s book '1984' was banned for being "pro-communist."

What George Orwell book was banned for being "pro-communist?"

1984

20

Antarctica is the only continent with no land areas below sea level.

What is the only continent with no land areas below sea level?

Antarctica

21

There is no Betty in the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins.

What character is missing from the Flintstones Chewables Vitamins?

Betty

22

Paul Hewson is the real name of Bono, the lead singer of a famous Irish band.

Paul Hewson is the real name of what singer of a famous Irish band?

Bono

23

Cashmere is produced from goats.

Cashmere is produced from what animal?

goat

24

Congo produces two-thirds of the world's cobalt.

What country produces two-thirds of the world's cobalt?

Congo

25

The word "puppy" comes from the French word for "doll."

The word "puppy" comes from the French word for what?

doll

26

The killer whale is a member of the dolphin family.

The killer whale is a member of what family?

dolphin

27

The elephant is the only animal with 4 knees.

What is the only animal with four knees?

elephant

28

Hewlett Packard's first product, an audio oscillator, was used in the Disney movie Fantasia.

Hewlett Packard's first product, an audio oscillator, was used in what Disney movie?

Fantasia

29

Fleas can accelerate 50 times faster than a space shuttle.

What can accelerate 50 times faster than a space shuttle?

fleas

30

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Fords Theater.

What is the name of the theater at which President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?

Fords

31

Giraffes are the only animals born with horns.

What is the only animal born with horns? 

giraffe

32

The original Hollywood sign read "Hollywoodland."

What did the original Hollywood sign read?

Hollywoodland

33

The Incas developed the decimal system hundreds of years before the Europeans.

Who developed the decimal system hundreds of years before the Europeans?

Incas

34

India has more Universities than any other country.

What country has more Universities than any other country?

India

35

Of all U. S. professionals, journalists are credited with having the largest vocabulary.

Of all U. S. professionals, who is credited with having the largest vocabulary?

journalists

36

Human babies are born without kneecaps.

What body part are human babies born without?

Kneecaps

37

Koalas and humans are the only animals with unique prints.

Other than humans, what other animal has unique prints?

Koala

38

The Nelly is the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy award.

What is the Canadian equivalent of the Emmy award?

Nelly

39

The Netherlands is the country with the lowest altitude.

What country has the lowest altitude?

Netherlands

40

Rainfall is measured with an Ombrometer.

What is rainful measured with?

ombrometer

41

The study of soil is paedology.

Paedology is the study of what?

soil

42

The most carnivorous of all bears is the polar bear.

What type of bear is the most carnivorous of all bears?

polar

43

Barbie doll's last name is Roberts.

What is Barbie doll's last name?

Roberts

44

Saturn has more moons than any other planet in our solar system.

Which planet has more moons than any other planet in our solar system?

Saturn

45

The most common street name in the U. S. is 'Second.'

What is the most common street name in the U.S.?

Second

46

Superman appears, either by name or in picture, in every episode of Seinfeld.

On what sitcom does superman appear, either by name or in picture, in every episode?

Seinfeld

47

Julius Cesare died of thirst.

What did Julius Cesare die of?

thirst

48

The name Wendy was created for the book Peter Pan.

What name was created for the book Peter Pan?

Wendy

 

 

Obscure City-State Stimuli:

 

Name Stimuli:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item

City

State

 

Item

Male name

1

Eek

Alaska

 

1

James

2

Why

Arizona

 

2

John

3

Floss

Arkansas

 

3

Robert

4

Wimp

California

 

4

Michael

5

Hygiene

Colorado

 

5

William

6

Mianus

Connecticut

 

6

David

7

Hellhole

Idaho

 

7

Richard

8

Gas

Kansas

 

8

Charles

9

Smile

Kentucky

 

9

Joseph

10

Convent

Louisiana

 

10

Thomas

11

Nowthen

Minnesota

 

11

Christopher

12

Soso

Mississippi

 

12

Daniel

13

Worms

Nebraska

 

13

Paul

14

Jobs

Ohio

 

14

Mark

15

Greasy

Oklahoma

 

15

Donald

16

Drain

Oregon

 

16

George

17

Panic

Pennsylvania

 

17

Kenneth

18

Life

Tennessee

 

18

Steven

19

Earth

Texas

 

19

Edward

20

Hardup

Utah

 

20

Brian

21

Notown

Vermont

 

21

Anthony

22

Nuttsville

Virginia

 

22

Kevin

23

Imalone

Wisconsin

 

23

Jason

24

Chugwater

Wyoming

 

24

Matthew

25

Killen

Alabama

 

 

 

26

Hourglass

Delaware

 

 

 

27

Crackertown

Florida

 

Item

Female name

28

Between

Georgia

 

25

Mary

29

Papa

Hawaii

 

26

Patricia

30

Melody

Illinois

 

27

Linda

31

Buddha

Indiana

 

28

Barbara

32

Diagonal

Iowa

 

29

Elizabeth

33

Robinhood

Maine

 

30

Jennifer

34

Madonna

Maryland

 

31

Susan

35

Belchertown

Massachusetts

 

32

Nancy

36

Slapneck

Michigan

 

33

Karen

37

Enough

Missouri

 

34

Betty

38

Belt

Montana

 

35

Helen

39

Gabbs

Nevada

 

36

Sandra

40

Tokeland

Washington

 

37

Donna

41

Coward

South Carolina

 

38

Ruth

42

Elf

North Carolina

 

39

Sharon

43

Odd

West Virginia

 

40

Laura

44

Rudeville

New Jersey

 

41

Sarah

45

Zap

North Dakota

 

42

Amy

46

Lawyersville

New York

 

43

Anna

47

Lama

New Mexico

 

44

Pamela

48

Nooseneck

Rhode Island

 

45

Martha

 

 

 

 

46

Christine

 

 

 

 

47

Janet

 

 

 

 

48

Alice

 

Faces Stimuli:

 

 


Design:

 

3 within-subjects materials conditions:

1.      Facts

2.      City-state pairs

3.      Face-name pairs

 

6 within-subjects retention interval (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 (8 items per condition)

 

Condition

Item #

Materials

RI

1

1-8

Fact

5 min

2

9-16

Fact

1 day

3

17-24

Fact

2 day

4

25-32

Fact

7 day

5

33-40

Fact

14 day

6

41-48

Fact

28 day

 

 

 

 

7

49-56

City-state

5 min

8

57-64

City-state

1 day

9

65-72

City-state

2 day

10

73-80

City-state

7 day

11

81-88

City-state

14 day

12

89-96

City-state

28 day

 

 

 

 

13

97-104

Face-name

5 min

14

105-112

Face-name

1 day

15

113-120

Face-name

2 day

16

121-128

Face-name

7 day

17

129-136

Face-name

14 day

18

137-144

Face-name

28 day

 

 

Session 1:

 

Block 1:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Testing Procedure: Use modified drop-out technique in which all 36 items are tested (+ feedback) in random order, then only error responses are tested again (+ feedback) in random order, until one correct response per item occurs. (Assume about 60 trials required, 60 trials x 6 seconds = 6 min). Total time Block 1 = 9.6 min.

 

 

Block 2: Repeat Block 1 with 36 new items (2 per condition). Total time Block 2 = 9.6 min.

 

Block 3: Repeat Block 2 with 36 new items (2 per condition). Total time Block 3 = 9.6 min.

 

Block 4: Repeat Block 3 with 36 new items (2 per condition). Total time Block 4 = 9.6 min.

 

 

After Block 4, test (+ feedback) entire list of 144 items again. Total time = 14.4 min.

 

 

 

 

Session 2:

Retention test 2: 1 day after Retention Test 1, randomly present 8 new items each from Facts, City-State Pairs, and Face-Name Pairs in test format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 4 sec per item x 24 items = 1.6 min).

 

Session 3:

Retention test 3: 2 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 8 new items each from Facts, City-State Pairs, and Face-Name Pairs in test format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 4 sec per item x 24 items = 1.6 min).

 

Session 4:

Retention test 4: 7 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 8 new items each from Facts, City-State Pairs, and Face-Name Pairs in test format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 4 sec per item x 24 items = 1.6 min).

 

Session 5:

Retention test 5: 14 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 8 new items each from Facts, City-State Pairs, and Face-Name Pairs in test format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 4 sec per item x 24 items = 1.6 min).

 

Session 6:

Retention test 6: 42 days after Retention Test 1, randomly present 8 new items each from Facts, City-State Pairs, and Face-Name Pairs in test format à subject given unlimited time to type in answer. No feedback (» 4 sec per item x 24 items = 1.6 min).

 

Total time to complete: 3 min for consent and instructions + Session 1 (59.4 min) + Session 2 (1.6 min) + Session 3 (1.6 min) + Session 4 (1.6 min) + Session 5 (1.6 min) + Session 6 (1.6 min) = 67.4 min.

 

Subjects: 70 web-based paid subjects ($25 U. S.). Run 10 subjects first and examine how many trials required with drop-out technique.