Do novel associative word stem completion and cued recall share the same memory retrieval processes?

The aim of this study was to determine whether word stem completion for nov el associations between cue and target words was mediated by automatic unco nscious memory processes or effortful memory processes under conscious cont rol. This was done by applying full and divided attention conditions at tes t to stem completion, cued recall, and recognition, and by administering a questionnaire that probed the memory strategies used by subjects during the completion test. Divided attention had no effect on stem completion perfor mance, but did reduce associative cued recall. Recognition performance was weakened overall by divided attention, but the associative effect was simil ar under both attention conditions. This suggested that novel associative w ord stem completion was mediated by automatic retrieval processes. However, the results of the questionnaire indicated that only subjects who attempte d to remember the words from the study phase during the completion task sho wed any novel associative effect. It is concluded that novel association wo rd stem completion and cued recall share automatic retrieval processes, whi ch nevertheless give rise to the experience of remembering.