中  華  心  理  學  刊
民93，46卷，3期，221-229

Sachiko Matsunaga（California State University, Los Angels, USA）

Abstract

This study tested the validity of the dual coding hypothesis (Paivio, 1971, 1986, 1991; Thompson & Paivio, 1994), which attempts to explain the phenomenon of picture superiority effect in human memory (i.e., pictures are better remembered than words). The study specifically investigated the short-term and long-term effect of picture and sound mnemonics, together or separately, on remembering hiragana (Japanese syllabic scripts) by learners of Japanese as a foreign language at an American university. Results of the study did not show picture superiority effects in aiding learners' short-term or long-term recalls of the symbols. This paper provides explanations for these results and suggests modifications of the dual coding theory.

Keywords：picture superiority effects, Hiragana retentaions