Category Repetition and Proactive Inhibition in Short-term Memory

This study examined the effects of repeating a taxonomic category using the Wickens' modification of the Peterson-Peterson short-term memory technique. Word triads from seven taxonomic categories were presented in blocked fashion to human Ss for thirty-two trials. After each block of four trials of one category, the Ss in the control condition were shifted to a new category for the next four trials. In the experimental condition, other Ss received new word triads from the same category every other block.