Name: Comprehension and Recall Data
Abstract: The experiment deals with the role of prior knowledge in the comprehension and
recall of ambiguous prose passages. There are three conditions in the experiment and 19 students
were randomly assigned to each condition. In one condition students were given a drawing that
could help them interpret the ambiguous passage before they heard the passage (Before
Condition). In another condition students were given the drawing after they heard the passage
(After Condition). In the last condition students were not given any cue before hearing the
passage (Control Condition).
Variables (column):
1. Subject Number (1-57)
2. Condition-when student was shown the picture (1=Picture After Reading, 2=Picture
Before Reading, 3= No Picture)
3. Comprehension of the Passage (Scale 1-7 with 7 being the highest comprehension)
4. Recall-the number of idea units that the student recalled (out of possible 13)
Possible Uses: ANOVA
References: Professor Jarvis and Professor Shaughnessy, Hope College
The experiment is a partial replication of a study done by Bransford and Johnson (1972). The
complete reference for their study is: Bransford, J.D., & Johnson, M.K. (1972). Contextual
prerequisites for understanding: Some investigations of comprehension and recall. Journal of
Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11, 717-726.