Florer, F. L. and Allen, G. A.
Four experiments examine the effects of retrieval ease on feelings of knowing (FOKs) for items. Ease of retrieval is manipulated using a methodology that incorporates an established recall task (the Ranschburg) into an established method for testing FOKs - recall, judging and recognition (RJR). In Experiments 1 and 2, FOKs exhibit the classic, smoothly bowed serial position effect. The presence of the serial position curve for FOKs provides a new source of evidence that the underlying cognitive factors that influence memory are significant factors in metamemory. In Experiments 3 and 4 FOKs are affected by memory manipulations, which affect recall processes, but not by manipulations which affect recognition. We suggest that the effect of retrieval ease on FOKs is specific to memory processes that affect recall, such as output interference; processes that affect recognition, such as target familiarity, do not affect FOKs