An experimental evaluation of the impact of data display format on recall performance

Recall, while an important topic in the study of learning and memory, has received relatively little attention as a dependent variable in studies that investigate alternative formats for presenting information. This paper describes two experiments, performed back to back, that examined the relationship between data display format and recall performance across different task categories. The results of Experiment 1 were reaffirmed by Experiment 2 and collectively suggest that a graphical presentation enhances recall when the task possesses a spatial orientation while the recall of specific facts is indifferent to data display format.