Variation in general retrieval ability in semantic and autobiographical fluency tasks

Nash Unsworth

Intelligence, 2024, vol. 105, issue C

Abstract: Individual differences in general retrieval ability in semantic and autobiographical fluency tasks were examined in the current study. Participants performed multiple fluency tasks requiring retrieval from semantic memory, autobiographical semantic memory, and autobiographical memory. Participants also completed multiple measures of working memory and vocabulary. Confirmatory factor analysis suggested that three distinct, but correlated fluency factors (semantic memory, autobiographical semantic memory, and autobiographical memory) best accounted for the data. These factors loaded onto a higher-order general retrieval factor. Working memory was correlated with the semantic, autobiographical semantic, and the higher-order general retrieval factor. Vocabulary correlated positively with semantic memory, but negatively autobiographical semantic memory, and not significantly with the higher-order factor. These results suggest there is a general retrieval ability that cuts across semantic and autobiographical fluency tasks and this general retrieval factor is correlated with working memory, but not necessarily with vocabulary. These results provide important information on the nature of individual differences in general retrieval ability.

Keywords: General retrieval abilities; Semantic memory; Autobiographical memory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016028962400031X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:intell:v:105:y:2024:i:c:s016028962400031x

DOI: 10.1016/j.intell.2024.101837

Access Statistics for this article

Intelligence is currently edited by R.J. Haier

More articles in Intelligence from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().