Why does working memory span predict complex cognition? Testing the strategy affordance hypothesis
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We introduce and empirically evaluate the strategy affordance hypothesis, which holds that individual differences in strategy use will mediate the relationship between performances on a working memory (WM) span task and another cognitive task only when the same strategies are afforded by both tasks. One hundred forty-eight participants completed basic memory tasks and verbal span tasks that afford the same strategies, such as imagery and sentence generation, and completed reading comprehension tasks that afford different ones, such as self-questioning and summarization. Effective strategy use on WM span tasks accounted for variance in the span-memory relationship, but not for the span-comprehension relationship, supporting the strategy affordance hypothesis. Strategy use mediated the span-cognition relationship only when both tasks afforded the same strategies.
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Use of internally generated strategies as measured by self-reports has been found to be related to better complex span performance in several studies.
“Besides practice with an externally provided strategy, also the use of internally generated strategies as measured by self-reports has been found to be related to better complex span performance in several studies9,10,14–16.”
From The early effects of external and internal strategies on working memory updating training (2018) · cites this paper as [14]
The present results using the n-back paradigm align well with previous findings that explicit WM strategy instruction can be effective and that self-generated WM strategies are associated with higher task performance.
“The present results using the n-back paradigm align well with previous findings mainly from complex span studies that have indicated that explicit WM strategy instruction can be effective10–13, and that self-generated WM strategies are associated with higher task performance9,10,14–16.”
From The early effects of external and internal strategies on working memory updating training (2018) · cites this paper as [14]
Two previous studies reporting effect sizes have shown large effects (η2 range 0.18-0.27) with groups ranging from 27 to 79 participants.
“the two previous studies reporting effect sizes have shown large effects ( range 0.18–0.27) with groups ranging from 27 to 79 participants12,14.”
From The early effects of external and internal strategies on working memory updating training (2018) · cites this paper as [14]
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- Authors
- Bailey, H., Dunlosky, J., & Kane, M. J.
- Affiliations
- Kent State University (US)
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro (US)
- Corresponding author
- Dunlosky, J.
- Venue
- Memory & Cognition
- Published
- 2008-12-01
- Volume
- 36
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 1383-1390
- ISSN
- 0090-502X (ISSN-L)
- 1532-5946
- OpenAlex
- W2045312184
- Cited by
- 121
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 4.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Memory & Cognition (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- NC Digital Online Collection of Knowledge and Scholarship (The University of North Carolina at Greensboro) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Reading and Literacy Development
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Keywords
- working memory span, verbal span, reading comprehension, imagery, sentence generation, self-questioning, summarization, mediation, complex cognition
- MeSH terms
- Cognition, Female, Humans, Male, Memory, Short-Term, Prospective Studies, Psychological Theory, Reaction Time, Young Adult
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