Generative learning during visual search for scene changes: enhancing free recall of individuals with and without mental retardation.

Memory for scene changes that were identified immediately (passive encoding) or following systematic and effortful search (generative encoding) was compared across groups differing in age and intelligence. In the context of flicker methodology, generative search for the changing object involved selection and rejection of multiple potential solutions prior to identification of the correct object. Such "incorrect guesses" were designed to serve as effective retrieval cues during free recall. All groups recalled more changes from the generative-encoding than from the passive-encoding condition. Results demonstrate the efficacy of generative encoding contexts for enhancing free recall in individuals with and without mental retardation and the promise of such methodologies for computerized learning environments.