Temporary Ambiguity in the Learning Context

Abstract

Defined as ambiguity that resolves itself within the sentence, temporary ambiguity is a key area of research in language processing. This study investigates how temporary ambiguity influences information acquisition and recall, focusing on how ambiguity impacts the creation of memory errors during learning. Participants learned about objects based on sentences that either contained or did not contain temporary ambiguity, then completed a cued recall test and a two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) test. Results from the recall test demonstrate significantly effects on recall accuracy. The findings have implications for understanding the cognitive mechanisms of language comprehension and memory.