Effects of Recall Order, Cue Placement, and Retention Interval on Short-Term Memory of Normal and Retarded Children

2 experiments investigated organizational strategies in the short-term memory of MA matched normal and retarded children. Sequences of digits were presented auditorily for immediate and delayed recall (0, 6, and 12 sec.). During Exp. I the retention intervals were silent, and during Exp. II they were filled. Recall was either in order of presentation (forward) or in reverse order (backward). Recall order was determined by a signal that either preceded (cue-before) or followed (cue-after) each digit string. As predicted, both normals and retardates recalled fewer items correctly under conditions assumed to require more efficient organization of information (the backward and cue-after conditions). Recall order interacted significantly with serial position, indicating no primacy effect for backward recall by normal and retarded Ss. Developmental differences in rehearsal efficiency were discussed.