Stressing the efficacy of the Loci method: Oral presentation and the subject-generation of the Loci pathway with expository passages

Results from previous research show that the Loci method is more effective in studying passages presented in an oral rather than a written modality (oral presentation effect), whilst a verbal strategy, such as Rehearsal, is more effective in the case of a written presentation modality. The present research tests some boundary conditions of the oral presentation effect. It is hypothesized to be stronger in the most classical conditions i.e. with subject-generated Loci pathways because of the greater involvement of imagery and with an expository passage. A written presentation effect is hypothesized for the verbal Rehearsal control group. Ninety subjects, divided into subject-generated Loci pathway, experimenter-supplied Loci pathway and verbal Rehearsal groups were presented three different passages (narrative, descriptive, expository) either orally or written on a computer screen. Results shows that the oral presentation effect is stronger for (a) the subject-generated Loci pathway group and, (b) the expository passage. A written presentation effect is confirmed for the verbal Rehearsal group whatever type of passage is used. Furthermore, modality of presentation effects are greater for the expository passage. Results are discussed in a selective interference framework and a few practical implications are suggested.