Category cues in free recall: retarded adults of two vocabulary age levels

40 high vocabulary age and 40 low vocabulary age retarded adults were given a randomly ordered list of 16 categorically related items in a 5 trial, free recall task. Half the subjects in each group were given category cues; the remainder were given no clustering assistance. Cues increased clustering for both groups, but only the high vocabulary age group showed increased recall. 24 hr later all subjects received a second randomly ordered categorizable list, and no cues were given. Previous exposure to cues did not affect performance on this list. It is concluded that a failure to code items with respect to category labels at presentation may prevent low vocabulary age subjects from using a clustering strategy efficiently, whereas high vocabulary age subjects can use such a strategy efficiently but have difficulties in initiating it for themselves.