First-Letter Mnemonics: Dam (Don't Aid Memory)

Summary A review of the first-letter mnemonic literature revealed inconsistent results and a series of interesting areas for additional study. The current study examined the effect on male and female Ss (N = 72) of first-letter mnemonics in five conditions, training plus S-generated mnemonics, training plus E-generated mnemonics, a replication of Bower's pegword system plus first-letter mnemonics, the pegword system alone, and a control condition. No facilitative effect was observed for first-letter mnemonics on either immediate or delayed recall, despite the Ss' reports of correct use of the mnemonic devices.