How prior knowledge and statement truth affect retrieval experiences over time

When retrieving information, people often shift over time from "Remembering" high levels of detail about a study episode to simply "Knowing" the information absent such detail. This "Remember-Know" shift is well-documented for true information, and recent work suggests that this effect exists, but is attenuated, for false information. One explanation for this difference is that true information is better represented in people's prior knowledge, supporting retention of this content as "Known" over time. In this registered report we tested this hypothesis by measuring people's reported retrieval experiences (e.g., "Remembering" or "Knowing") for true and false information at two levels of anticipated prior knowledge. While we replicate the "Remember-Know" shift, we do not find that it differs by anticipated prior knowledge. We also examine the relation between retrieval experiences and the production of encountered information, as well as the impact of repeated testing on retrieval experiences.

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Publication Details

Journal
Memory
Published
2025-11-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09658211.2025.2584452
Primary Topic
Memory Processes and Influences
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

How prior knowledge and statement truth affect retrieval experiences over time

Lisa K. Fazio, Raunak M. Pillai, Suha Arshad
Memory
Memory Processes and Influences
article

How prior knowledge and statement truth affect retrieval experiences over time

Lisa K. Fazio, Raunak M. Pillai, Suha Arshad
article en

Abstract

When retrieving information, people often shift over time from "Remembering" high levels of detail about a study episode to simply "Knowing" the information absent such detail. This "Remember-Know" shift is well-documented for true information, and recent work suggests that this effect exists, but is attenuated, for false information. One explanation for this difference is that true information is better represented in people's prior knowledge, supporting retention of this content as "Known" over time. In this registered report we tested this hypothesis by measuring people's reported retrieval experiences (e.g., "Remembering" or "Knowing") for true and false information at two levels of anticipated prior knowledge. While we replicate the "Remember-Know" shift, we do not find that it differs by anticipated prior knowledge. We also examine the relation between retrieval experiences and the production of encountered information, as well as the impact of repeated testing on retrieval experiences.

MemoryVol. 34(1)
Vanderbilt University (US)
Openalex Percentile: Top 67%
Memory Processes and Influences
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