Noise, time of day and test expectations in recall and recognition

Eighty‐five compared with 65 dBC white noise presented at input was found to improve the free recall of subjects expecting a recall test and to impair that of subjects anticipating a recognition test, suggesting that noise enhances differences in strategies between recall and recognition test expectations. The results of a similar experiment examining the interaction between test expectations and time of presentation showed that test expectations had no effect on recall in the morning but influenced performance in the afternoon. Thus noise appears to reinforce the instructions and morning presentation to override them. It was concluded that the effects of noise and time of day must be considered in relation to the task requirements.