Online and laboratory procedure for investigating familiarity and memory content during autobiographical retrieval using high- and low-access cues

<ns5:p> Autobiographical memory retrieval is commonly investigated using word-cue paradigms in which participants intentionally recall events from their personal past in response to verbal cues. While previous research has extensively examined autobiographical memory retrieval itself, fewer standardized procedures are available for investigating phenomenological experiences accompanying retrieval attempts, including feelings of familiarity and retrieval failures. The present paper describes a structured online and laboratory procedure designed to investigate autobiographical retrieval experiences using high-access and low-access verbal cues. The procedure enables simultaneous assessment of autobiographical memory retrieval, feelings of familiarity, and knowing-not experiences, together with detailed phenomenological ratings and response times. The implementation includes randomized cue presentation, conditional branching logic, attentional control questions, and standardized variable-labelling conventions facilitating adaptation and automated data processing. The protocol is provided in English and French in formats directly compatible with Qualtrics and Gorilla platforms. Validation data obtained from 101 French-speaking participants demonstrated high compliance with attentional-control procedures and successful elicitation of multiple autobiographical retrieval outcomes. The procedure may be adapted for laboratory, online, and cross-cultural autobiographical memory research. <ns5:list list-type="bullet"> <ns5:list-item> <ns5:p>• Standardized online and laboratory procedure for investigating autobiographical retrieval, familiarity experiences, and retrieval failures.</ns5:p> </ns5:list-item> <ns5:list-item> <ns5:p>• Flexible implementation using high-access and low-access autobiographical retrieval cues.</ns5:p> </ns5:list-item> <ns5:list-item> <ns5:p>• Directly adaptable Qualtrics/Gorilla protocol.</ns5:p> </ns5:list-item> </ns5:list> </ns5:p>