Fuzzy-trace theory and source monitoring - An evaluation of theory and false-memory data

Fuzzy-trace theory and the source-monitoring framework are evaluated with r espect to recent data on false memory. Lindsay and Johnson discuss key find ings generated by fuzzy-trace theory from a source-monitoring perspective, such as independence between recognition judgments of true and false memori es, increases in false recognition through mere-memory testing, vivid false recognition-phantom recollection-through repeated cuing of gist, and false -recognition reversal, in which semantically related items are misrecognize d less often than unrelated items [Learn. Individ. Differ. 7 (1995) 1; J. E xp. Child Psychol. 71 (1998) 194; Learn. Individ. Differ. 9 (1997) 95]. Lin dsay and Johnson qualify core assumptions of source monitoring (e.g., sourc e similarity is said to increase, decrease, and have no effect on source co nfusions and false memories; records of internal cognitive operations might not discriminate reality from self-generated representations) to accommoda te these effects, as well as opposite effects. Although the power and scope of the source-monitoring perspective is evident, their approach suffers fr om limitations of imprecision and unfalsifiability. Nevertheless, they are to be commended for actively engaging data generated by alternative perspec tives and for advancing sorely needed theoretical understanding of false-me mory effects. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.