Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society

Studies investigating the facilitation of spontaneous access during problem solving by manipulating encoding processes suggest that similar processing at acquisition and test (i.e., problem-oriented processing) enhances spontaneous access (Adams et al., 1988; Lockhart et al.. 1988). Bow Jen (1985) argues that access difficulty Is due to problem solving time (i.e.. retrieval) constraints rather than acquisition processes. Ross et al. (1989) have challenged Bowden by suggesting that an increase in retrieval time allows subjects to "catch on" to the the experimental procedure. This study investigates this claim and also attempts to separate acquisition and retrieval factors by crossing problem solving time (40. 80. 120 sec) with acquisition processing factors (problem-oriented, fact-oriented, and mixed orientation). The mixed condition includes problem-oriented and fact-oriented as a within subjects variable. Results show an increase in performance from 40 sec to 80 sec, but no added benefit beyond 80 sec. Problem-oriented processing facilitates spontaneous access. The critical evaluation is that of the mixed condition. Performance in the mixed condition also shows a faciliation of spontaneous access for those acquisition materials that involve problem-oriented processing, but not fact-oriented processing. suggesting that one form of encoding facilitates later access.