DEPTH OF PROCESSING VERSUS OPPOSITIONAL CONTEXT IN WORD RECALL - A NEW LOOK AT THE FINDINGS OF HYDE AND JENKINS AS VIEWED BY CRAIK AND LOCKHART

The interpretation given by Craik and Lockhart (1972) of the findings by Hyde and Jenkins (1969) involving supposed depth of incidental-task processing on subsequent word recall is brought into question by the tenets of logical learning theory. It is shown that Craik and Lockhart overlooked the possible role of oppositionality in this research. An alternative explanation relying on an oppositional context and predica tion is offered. Two experiments (combining 270 subjects) present evid ence supporting the hypothesis that oppositionality in an incidental t ask facilitates subsequent word recall (p < .001). In both experiments , the importance of taking a subject's meaningful understanding of the task instruction into consideration is highlighted. The discussion co ntrasts Boolean ''binary'' disjunction with the logic of oppositionali ty. It is shown how oppositionality allows us to conceptualize a testa ble theory of human agency.