Discussion: View Thread

  • 1.  recall of unusual vs. common events

    Posted 02-21-2008 16:08

    Hi everyone,

     

    I am looking for a reference. I have a vague recollection of a paper suggesting that in retrospective verbal accounts of specific events, people tend to have a better recollection of unusual events than of common, everyday events. In other words, it is more likely I will recall accurately my trip home the one time that I got upgraded to the business class than specifics one particular trip of the many when I traveled coach. I believe the logic is that common events tend to blend together in people's memories, so remembering the specifics may be more difficult.

     

    Does anyone know where I should look for a reference to this effect?

     

    Thank you,

     

    Špela Trefalt

    Harvard|Business|School

    Doctoral Candidate

    Office: 617 495 6495

    strefalt@hbs.edu

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  • 2.  recall of unusual vs. common events

    Posted 02-21-2008 17:28
    Take a look at the writing on "selective perception" that's in most any introductory psych text.
     
    -----Original Message-----
    From: Organizational Behavior Division Listserv [mailto:OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Spela Trefalt
    Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 1:08 PM
    To: OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: recall of unusual vs. common events

    Hi everyone,

     

    I am looking for a reference. I have a vague recollection of a paper suggesting that in retrospective verbal accounts of specific events, people tend to have a better recollection of unusual events than of common, everyday events. In other words, it is more likely I will recall accurately my trip home the one time that I got upgraded to the business class than specifics one particular trip of the many when I traveled coach. I believe the logic is that common events tend to blend together in people's memories, so remembering the specifics may be more difficult.

     

    Does anyone know where I should look for a reference to this effect?

     

    Thank you,

     

    Špela Trefalt

    Harvard|Business|School

    Doctoral Candidate

    Office: 617 495 6495

    strefalt@hbs.edu

    ----------------------------------------------------------------- 



  • 3.  recall of unusual vs. common events

    Posted 02-21-2008 18:02
    Spela:

    I don't know that it is what you are referrring to but one related notion
    is that of contrast effects. These are discussed somewhat differently
    depending upon the domain area. Both the perception literatures and the job
    socialization literatures talk about it (e.g., Louis, 1980 for the later).

    At at general level the notion is that things that are in contrast to what
    we are used to tend to receive more attention or otherwise have a greater
    effect on some outcome (e.g., what is remembered in the case you mention).

    Brian

    ==========================
    D. Brian McNatt, Ph.D., CPA
    Assistant Professor of Management
    2167 Constant Hall
    Department of Management
    Old Dominion University
    Norfolk, VA 23529

    (757) 683-3572
    (757) 683-3258 (fax)
    dmcnatt@odu.edu




    Spela Trefalt
    <strefalt@HBS.EDU
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    Organizational cc
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    02/21/2008 05:57
    PM


    Please respond to
    Organizational
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    .edu>






    Hi everyone,

    I am looking for a reference. I have a vague recollection of a paper
    suggesting that in retrospective verbal accounts of specific events, people
    tend to have a better recollection of unusual events than of common,
    everyday events. In other words, it is more likely I will recall accurately
    my trip home the one time that I got upgraded to the business class than
    specifics one particular trip of the many when I traveled coach. I believe
    the logic is that common events tend to blend together in people’s
    memories, so remembering the specifics may be more difficult.

    Does anyone know where I should look for a reference to this effect?

    Thank you,

    Špela Trefalt
    Harvard|Business|School
    Doctoral Candidate
    Office: 617 495 6495
    strefalt@hbs.edu
    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Think before you print to save energy and paper. Do you really need to
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  • 4.  recall of unusual vs. common events

    Posted 02-21-2008 18:41

    Hi

     You might look in the eyewitness memory literature – there is for example evidence that the presence of a gun at a crime can narrow or focus attention so that memory of other surrounding events can be impaired.  There are also some data suggesting that it is difficult to retrieve a specific instance of a repeated action.  We reviewed a good chunk of this literature with reference to accident investigations in

     

    Kelloway, E.K., Stinson, V. & MacLean, C. (2004).  Eyewitness Testimony in Occupational Accident Investigations: Towards a Reseach Agenda Law and Human Behavior; 28, 1;

    Hope this helps

    kevin

     

    From: Organizational Behavior Division Listserv [mailto:OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Spela Trefalt
    Sent: Thursday, February 21, 2008 5:08 PM
    To: OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
    Subject: recall of unusual vs. common events

     

    Hi everyone,

     

    I am looking for a reference. I have a vague recollection of a paper suggesting that in retrospective verbal accounts of specific events, people tend to have a better recollection of unusual events than of common, everyday events. In other words, it is more likely I will recall accurately my trip home the one time that I got upgraded to the business class than specifics one particular trip of the many when I traveled coach. I believe the logic is that common events tend to blend together in people's memories, so remembering the specifics may be more difficult.

     

    Does anyone know where I should look for a reference to this effect?

     

    Thank you,

     

    Špela Trefalt

    Harvard|Business|School

    Doctoral Candidate

    Office: 617 495 6495

    strefalt@hbs.edu

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    Think before you print to save energy and paper. Do you really need to print this email? If you do, print it double sided.

     



  • 5.  recall of unusual vs. common events

    Posted 02-21-2008 18:46
    Spela,
    The relative ease with which people recall unusual events is often
    ascribed to the availability heuristic, identified by Tversky &
    Kahneman. Here's an early citation describing it and other heuristics:
    Tversky, A., & Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty:
    Heuristics and biases. /Science/, /185/, 1124-1131.
    Thanks,
    Bob Giambatista

    Spela Trefalt wrote:

    > Hi everyone,
    >
    > I am looking for a reference. I have a vague recollection of a paper
    > suggesting that in retrospective verbal accounts of specific events,
    > people tend to have a better recollection of unusual events than of
    > common, everyday events. In other words, it is more likely I will
    > recall accurately my trip home the one time that I got upgraded to the
    > business class than specifics one particular trip of the many when I
    > traveled coach. I believe the logic is that common events tend to
    > blend together in people’s memories, so remembering the specifics may
    > be more difficult.
    >
    > Does anyone know where I should look for a reference to this effect?
    >
    > Thank you,
    >
    > *Špela Trefalt*
    >
    > *Harvard**|Business|**School*
    >
    > *Doctoral Candidate*
    >
    > *Office: 617 495 6495*
    >
    > *strefalt@hbs.edu*
    >
    > -----------------------------------------------------------------
    >
    > *Think before you print to save energy and paper. Do you really need
    > to print this email? If you do, print it double sided.***
    >


  • 6.  recall of unusual vs. common events

    Posted 02-22-2008 04:04
    Hi Spela,
    Try the search term: schema-inconsistent events.
    Regards, B.

    Dr. Birgit Schyns
    Reader in Organisational Behaviour
    University of Portsmouth
    Portsmouth Business School
    Richmond Building
    Portland Street
    Portsmouth
    PO1 3DE
    UK
    E-Mail: birgit.schyns@port.ac.uk
    Phone: 0044 23 92844664


    >>> Spela Trefalt <strefalt@HBS.EDU> 02/21/08 9:08 pm >>>
    Hi everyone,



    I am looking for a reference. I have a vague recollection of a paper
    suggesting that in retrospective verbal accounts of specific events, people
    tend to have a better recollection of unusual events than of common,
    everyday events. In other words, it is more likely I will recall accurately
    my trip home the one time that I got upgraded to the business class than
    specifics one particular trip of the many when I traveled coach. I believe
    the logic is that common events tend to blend together in people's memories,
    so remembering the specifics may be more difficult.



    Does anyone know where I should look for a reference to this effect?



    Thank you,



    *pela Trefalt

    Harvard|Business|School

    Doctoral Candidate

    Office: 617 495 6495

    strefalt@hbs.edu

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    Think before you print to save energy and paper. Do you really need to print
    this email? If you do, print it double sided.