Dissociating Recollection and Familiarity in Recognition Memory

Abstract

<p>The processes underlying recognition memory were examined using the process dissociation procedure (Jacoby, 1991). Recognition judgements based on recollection were found to differ in several fundamental ways from those based on familiarity. Increasing list length interfered with recollection but left familiarity intact. Response time distributions and the results of a response signal procedure showed that familiarity was faster as a basis for recognition judgements than was recollection. The analyses of receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) showed that recollection led to high confidence memory judgements that remained relatively constant as response criterion was varied. Familiarity, on the other and, increased gradually as response criterion was relaxed. Results support a dual-process model of recognition in which a discrete recollection process operates independently of a continuous familiarity process.</p>