Abstract
The efficacy of keyword mnemonics in the learning of the non-dominant language in bilingual students was assessed. Of a total of 237 Compulsory Secondary Education students who participated in the study, 102 students used keyword mnemonics and 100 students used the rote method to learn the Spanish meaning of a list of 20 Galician words (the remaining 35 students generated the keywords to be used in the study). Moreover, each participant’s image control was assessed. The recall of the meaning of words was greater in the keyword mnemonics group than in the rote learning group both in terms of receptive and productive recall. Moreover, participants with high image control had better recall than those with low image control ability.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Amor, A., Campos, A., & González, M. A. (2003). Potencial de la mnemotecnia de la palabra clave reforzada con dibujos: efecto en el aprendizaje a largo plazo invertido [Potential of the keyword mnemonic reinforced with drawings: effect on reversal long-term learning]. Revista Galego-Portuguesa de Psicoloxía e Educación, 8, 1032–1044.
Ashcraft, M. H. (1998). Fundmentals of cognition. New York: Longman.
Atkinson, R. C. (1975). Mnemotechnics in second-language learning. American Psychologist, 30, 821–828. doi:10.1037/h0077029.
Atkinson, R. C., & Raugh, M. (1975). An application of the mnemonic keyword method to the acquisition of a Russian vocabulary. Journal of Educational Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 104, 126–133. doi:10.1037/0278-7393.1.2.126.
Avila, E., & Sadoski, M. (1996). Exploring new applications of the keyword method to acquire English vocabulary. Language Learning, 46, 379–395. doi:10.1111/j.1467-1770.1996tb01241.x.
Baddeley, A. D., & Andrade, J. (2000). Working memory and the vividness of imagery. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 129, 126–145. doi:10.1037/0096-3445.129.1.126.
Beaton, A. A., Gruneberg, M. M., Hyde, C., Shufflebottom, A., & Sykes, R. N. (2005). Facilitation of receptive and productive foreign vocabulary learning using the keyword method: the role of image quality. Memory, 13, 458–471. doi:10.1080/09658210444000395.
Bird, S. A., & Jacobs, G. M. (1999). An examination of the keyword method: how effective is it for native speakers of Chinese learning English. Asian Journal of English Language Teaching, 9, 75–97.
Bugarín, M. X. (2007). O galego fundamental: Dicionario de frecuencias [Galician fundamental. Frecuency dictionary]. A Coruña: Fundación Pedro Barrié de la Maza.
Campos, A., & Amor, A. (2005). Among-subject concordance in keyword generation and its effect on recall: a preliminary study. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 24, 347–354.
Campos, A., & Pérez, M. J. (1997). Mnemonic images and associated pair recall. Journal of Mental Imagery, 21, 73–82.
Campos, A., Amor, A., & González, M. A. (2002). Presentation of keywords by means of interactive drawings. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 5, 102–109.
Campos, A., Amor, A., & González, M. A. (2003). ¿Es eficaz la mnemotecnia de la palabra clave en el recuerdo inverso?[How effective is the keyword mnemonic memory in reverse?]. Revista Galego-Portuguesa de Psicoloxía e Educación, 7, 47–57.
Campos, A., Amor, A., & González, M. A. (2004a). The importance of the keyword-generation method in keyword mnemonics. Experimental Psychology, 51, 125–131. doi:10.1027/1618-3169.51.2.125.
Campos, A., Amor, A., & González, M. A. (2004b). Drawing-assisted strategies in keyword mnemonics. Studia Psychologica, 46, 211–218.
Campos, A., González, M. A., & Amor, A. (2004c). Different strategies for keyword generation. Journal of Mental Imagery, 28(3&4), 51–58.
Campos, A., Pérez-Fabello, M. J., & Camino, E. (2010). Eficacia de la mnemotecnia de la palabra clave en personas adultas [Efficacy of the keyword mnemonic method in adults]. Psicothema, 22, 752–757.
Campos, A., Camino, E., & Pérez-Fabello, M. J. (2011). Using the keyword mnemonics method among adult learners. Educational Gerontology, 37, 327–335. doi:10.1080.03601271003608886.
Ellis, N., & Beaton, A. (1993). Factor affecting the learning of foreign language vocabulary: imagery keyword mediators and phonological short-term memory. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 46, 533–558. doi:10.1080/14640749308401062.
González, M. A., Amor, A., & Campos, A. (2003). La mnemotecia de la palabra clave [The keyword mnemonic]. A Coruña: Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de A Coruña.
Gruneberg, M. M., & Pascoe, K. (1996). The effectiveness of the keyword method for receptive and productive foreign vocabulary learning in the elderly. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 21, 102–109. doi:10.1006/ceps.1996.0009.
Hiscock, M. (1978). Imagery assessment through self-report: what do imagery questionnaires measure? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 46, 457–466. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.46.2.223.
Lawson, M., & Hogben, K. (1996). The vocabulary-learning strategies of foreign-language students. Language Learning, 46, 101–135. doi:10.1111/j.1467.1996tb00642.x.
Lawson, M., & Hogben, K. (1998). Learning and recall of foreign-language vocabulary: effects of a keyword strategy for immediate and delayed recall. Learning and Instruction, 8, 179–194. doi:10.1016/S0959-4752(97)00016-9.
Levin, J. R., Dretzke, B. J., McCormick, C. B., Scruggs, T. E., McGivern, J. E., & Mastropieri, M. A. (1983). Learning via mnemonic pictures. Analysis of the presidential process educational. Commnications and Techology Journal, 3, 161–173.
Lorenz, C., & Neisser, U. (1985). Factors of imagery and event recall. Memory & Cognition, 13, 494–500. doi:10.3758/BF03198319.
Mastropieri, M. A., Scruggs, T. E., Levin, J. R., Gaffney, J., & McLoone, B. (1985). Mnemonic vocabulary instruction for learning disabled students. Learning Disability Quarterly, 8, 57–63.
McKelvie, S. J. (1994). Guidelines or judging psychometric properties of imagery questionnaires as research instruments: a quantitative proposal. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 79, 1219–1231. doi:10.2466/pms.1994.79.3.1219.
McKelvie, S. J., & Gingras, P. P. (1974). Reliability of two measures of visual imagery. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 39, 417–418. doi:10.2466/pms.1974.39.1.417.
McLoone, B. B., Scruggs, T. E., Mastropieri, M. A., & Zucker, S. (1986). Memory strategy instruction and training with LD adolescents. Learning Disabilities Research, 2, 45–53.
Ott, C. E., Butler, D. C., Blake, R. S., & Ball, J. P. (1973). The effect of interactive-image elaboration on the acquisition of foreign language vocabulary. Language Learning, 23, 197–206. doi:10.1111/j.1467.1770.1973.tb00655.x.
Paivio, A. (1975). Imagery and long-term memory. In A. Kennedy & A. Wilkes (Eds.), Studies in long term memory (pp. 57–88). London: Wiley.
Paivio, A. (1979). Imagery and verbal processes. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Pérez-Fabello, M. J., & Campos, A. (2004). Factor structure and internal consistency of the Spanish version of the Gordon Test of Visual Imagery Control. Psychological Reports, 94, 761–766. doi:10.2466/PR0.94.3.761-766.
Pressley, M., & Levin, J. R. (1978). Developmental constraints associated with children’s use of the keyword method of foreign language vocabulary learning. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 26, 359–372. doi:10.1016/0022-0965(78)90014-0.
Pressley, M., & Levin, J. R. (1981). The keyword method and recall of vocabulary words from definitions. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 7, 72–76. doi:10.1037/0278-7393.7.1.72.
Pressley, M., Levin, J. R., Hall, J. W., Miller, G. E., & Berry, J. K. (1980). The keyword method and foreign word acquisition. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 6, 163–173. doi:10.1037/0278-7393.6.2.163.
Pressley, M., Levin, J. R., & Delaney, H. D. (1982). The mnemonic keyword method. Review of Educational Research, 52, 61–91.
Raugh, M. R., & Atkinson, R. C. (1975). A mnemonic method for the learning of a second language vocabulary. Journal of Educational Psychology, 67, 1–16. doi:10.1037/h0078665.
Richardson, A. (1969). Mental imagery. London: Routledge & Kagan Paul.
Richardson, A. (1994). Individual differences in imaging. Amityville: Baywood.
Roberts, J., & Kelly, N. (1985). The keyword method: an alternative vocabulary strategy for developmental college readers. Reading World, 24, 34–39. doi:10.1080/19388078509557830.
Scruggs, T. E., Mastropieri, M. A., & Levin, J. R. (1985a). Vocabulary acquisition by mentally retarded students under direct and mnemonic instruction. American Journal of Mental Deficiency, 89, 546–551.
Scruggs, T. E., Mastropieri, M. A., Levin, J. R., & Gaffney, J. S. (1985b). Facilitating the acquisition of science facts in learning-disabled students. American Educational Research Journal, 22, 575–586.
Troutt-Ervin, E. D. (1990). Application of keyword mnemonics to learning terminology in the college classroom. Journal of Experimental Education, 59, 31–41.
Tulving, E. (1972). Episodic and semantic memory. In E. Tulving & W. Donalson (Eds.), Organization of memory (pp. 381–403). New York: Academic Press.
Tulving, E. (1989). Remembering and knowing the past. American Scientist, 77, 361–367.
Tulving, E. (1993). What is episodic memory? Current Directions in Psychological Science, 2, 67–70.
Wang, A. Y., Thomas, M. H., & Ouellette, J. A. (1992). Keyword mnemonic and retention of second-language vocabulary words. Journal of Educational Psychology, 84, 520–528. doi:10.1037/0022-0663.84.4.520.
Wyra, M., Lawson, M. J., & Hungi, N. (2007). The mnemonic keyword method: the effects of bidirectional retrieval training and of ability to image on foreign language vocabulary recall. Learning and Instruction, 17, 360–371. doi:10.1016/j.learnistruc.2007.02.008.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Campos, A., Rodríguez-Pinal, M.D. & Pérez-Fabello, M.J. Receptive and Productive Recall with the Keyword Mnemonics in Bilingual Students. Curr Psychol 33, 64–72 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-013-9197-y
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-013-9197-y