ABSTRACT
Subjects were shown either a list of non-associated words or a list on which words could be organized into related groups. In Expt 1 either no orienting instructions were given or subjects had to rate the words for Pleasantness (semantic orienting task). The three-way interaction of noise x list type x orienting task was significant. Eighty-five dBC white noise compared with 65 dBC improved performance on the non-associated list with no orienting task and increased recall in the original sequence, but had the reverse effect with semantic orienting. With the associated list noise had no marked effects in the non-orienting condition, and improved performance in the orienting condition. It is concluded that in noise maintenance rehearsal tends to be adopted unless instructions induce an alternative strategy, and in the latter event noise reinforces use of the alternative strategy. In Expt 2, all subjects carried out a physical orienting task, rating the words for the sounds they contained. Noise aided performance on the non-associated list and impaired it on the associated list. This result is taken to be compatible with the above interpretation of noise effects.
