Associative Asymmetry in S-R vs R-S Recall of Double-Function Lists

Contrary to the Asch-Ebenholtz principle of associative symmetry, significantly poorer backward (R–S) than forward (S–R) recall was demonstrated following the learning of double-function paired-associate lists, wherein each item appears once as a stimulus and again as a response term but is paired with two different other terms. Since equal availability of stimulus and response terms is guaranteed by the formal identity of the two sets within these double-function lists, thereby eliminating a major shortcoming of previous attempts to test the Asch-Ebenholtz thesis that S–R and R–S associations within each pair are necessarily equivalent in strength, the present results offer strong evidence against the validity of the principle of associative symmetry as applied to paired-associate learning

Associative learning · Associative property · Cognitive psychology · Pure mathematics · Recall · Stimulus (psychology · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Educational and Psychological Assessments · Mathematics · Memory Processes and Influences · Psychology · Social Psychology

• Effects of Meaningfulness and Familiarization Upon Backward Associations in Paired-Associate Learning

  Chizuko Izawa•Japanese Psychological Research•1967

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• Comparison of Associative Learning under Three Methods and Three Directional Forms of Presentation

  Open Access•Vladimir Cervin, V B Cervin et al.•Psychological Reports•1970

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