The effect of impression formation on memory of trait words: Relation between coding and retrieval process

Three experiments investigated the effect of impression formation of a pers on on the recall and recognition of trail words. The subjects were assigned to one of four groups: Impression, Memory, Impression-Memory, and Incident al groups. Each subject performed an orienting task followed by free recall and recognition tests. In a recall test, false recall of antonyms of targe ts occurred more often in the Memory group than in the Impression group. Th ere was no difference in the correct recall. In a multiple choice recogniti on test and a yes-no recognition test, false recognition to antonyms of tar gets occurred more often in the Memory group than in the Impression group. Hit to targets occurred more often in the Impression group than in the Memo ry group. These results were interpreted as showing that formation of an im pression for a person had different effects For recall and recognition test s. The results were discussed in terms of a relation between encoding and r etrieval processes.