Abstract
27 hospitalized chronic schizophrenics and 27 normals, matched on age, sex, and vocabulary ability, participated in a verbal learning task. 21 words, selected to represent evaluative, potency, and activity semantic factors and matched for Thorndike-Lorge frequencies, were presented via a memory drum on 3 trials. Normals recalled more words than schizophrenics, both groups recalled more words on each succeeding trial, and normals recalled more evaluative factor words than other factor words, while schizophrenics recalled more potency factor words than other factor words. The 2 groups did not differ significantly in the number of incorrect words they wrote. The results were interpreted as supporting an interference theory of schizophrenic functioning.
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The writers are grateful to Hubert Carbone, superintendent at State Hospital, Jamestown, North Dakota, and to Constance Nelson for their support of the proj’ect. Edward A. Jacobson and William A. Hillix are to be thanked for their helpful suggestions. An abbreviated version of this paper was presented at the Western Psychological Association meetings in San Francisco, California, May, 967.
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Sattler, J.M., Nordmark, T. Verbal Learning in Schizophrenics and Normals. Psychol Rec 21, 241–246 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394014
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03394014