Reminding and retrieval from permanent storage

Investigated whether free retrieval of (all items in) a category from permanent memory can be increased by reminding as well as by previous retrieval. 5 undergraduate were Ss. Reminding alone increased free retrieval of the category "birds" greatly, while previous retrieval did not. Previous retrieval increased the final retrieval of the category "nations" more than reminding alone did. Reminding after a preceding retrieval increased the subsequent retrieval of nations by selective encoding and retention of previously omitted nation items, but did not increase the final retrieval of birds more than reminding alone did. Findings suggest that selective encoding of omitted items for more complete retrieval of (items from) a category in permanent memory may require organized, directed search, into which the retrieval of omitted items may be integrated. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).