Children's individual differences in capacity: Effects on strategy production and utilization

One issue concerning strategy development is whether the same causes underl ie the development of strategy production and strategy effectiveness (benef it for recall). This research examined the role of individual differences i n memory capacity in the production and effectiveness of a selective proces sing strategy. Kindergartners and first graders (N = 84) chose, by opening doors, certain objects to view from a set of objects during a study period. The most appropriate strategy was a selective one viewing only the objects to be recalled. Individual differences in capacity were assessed by five m easures of memory span. Several measures of capacity predicted recall overa ll or strategy effectiveness, but none were related to strategy production. The fact that digit span predicted recall for strategic children, but not non-strategic children, suggests that those strategic children who have a r elatively large capacity can engage in additional mnemonic activities that increase recall.