Retrieval latency and "at-risk" memories

Does retrieval latency reflect variations in the strength of associations i n episodic memory? In three experiments, subjects were given a single study and test trial on each of five lists of 10 paired associates. Spoken recal l latencies were measured. When the subjects were later given a second test , initial recall latency was systematically related to intertest retention- that is, the faster the initial correct recall of a pair, the more likely a pair was to be recalled at the second test. This effect occurred at retent ion intervals of 5 min, 30 min, and 24 h and was present in the data for in dividual subjects. The results are consistent with the classical view of la tency as a measure of trace strength and stand in sharp contrast with resul ts reported by Benjamin, Bjork, and Schwartz (1998) that showed that fast r etrievals from semantic memory were more poorly retained than slower ones.