Abstract
Associative inference allows us to make novel associations based on prior experiences, guiding future behavior. While previous studies have used narratives or mental imagery to aid memory, the specific role of narratives in this process remains unclear. This study investigates the role of narratives in enhancing associative inference and their potential trade-offs with item-level memory specificity. Across two experiments, participants learned object pairs using narrative or perceptual descriptions, with or without active linking. Experiment 1 found that narratives combined with active linking improved associative inference. Experiment 2, incorporating a mnemonic similarity task, revealed that while narratives enhanced memory integration, they impaired object recognition and discrimination. These results suggest that narratives strengthen connections between memory items at the cost of detailed item-specific encoding.
Committee Chair
Zachariah M. Reagh
Committee Members
Ian Dobbins, Jeffrey M. Zacks
Degree
Master of Arts (AM/MA)
Author's Department
Psychology
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Summer 8-15-2024
Language
English (en)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7936/p8fg-gp97
Author's ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4392-8573
Recommended Citation
Tang, Shuran, "Self-Generated Narratives Enhance Associative Inference at the Cost of Memory Specificity" (2024). Arts & Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 3332.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.7936/p8fg-gp97