Investigating the Influence of Local and Personal Common Ground on Memory for Conversation Using an Online Referential Communication Task
Loading...
Authors
Nault, Daniel
Date
Type
thesis
Language
eng
Keyword
Common ground , Conversation , Memory
Alternative Title
Abstract
A shared understanding or common ground is known to be an essential aspect of efficient conversation. Interlocutors require some level of mutual knowledge to build their conversation together without restating redundant information. Recently, common ground has also been shown to be related to recognition memory for conversation (McKinley, Brown-Schmidt, & Benjamin, 2017). Here, we investigated the influence of two forms of common ground between conversational dyads on their ability to recall verbatim and semantic conversational content about a week later. Semantic recall memory was measured using a natural language processing approach. In Experiment 1, we examined whether the strength of local common ground formed between dyads for images during an online referential communication task (RCT) predicted their ability to recall image descriptions used during the RCT. In Experiment 2, we varied the level of pre-existing personal common ground between dyads participating in the RCT and examined their recall memory performance. We did this by recruiting pairs of friends and strangers. In both experiments, there was a significant association between the strength of local common ground formed between dyads for images during the RCT and their verbatim (but not semantic) recall memory for image descriptions. These findings provide additional evidence that individuals can remember some verbatim words and phrases used during conversations, and partially support the view that common ground and memory are intricately linked. However, the null findings with regards to semantic recall memory suggest that the structured nature of the RCT may have constrained the types of memory representations that individuals formed during the interaction. Participants who generated the image descriptions during the RCTs also tended to show superior recall memory performance. In Experiment 2, friends used significantly less numbers of words to describe images during the RCT than strangers, providing evidence that conversational
efficiency was afforded by their pre-existing personal common ground. However, contrary to our hypothesis, results suggest that strangers exhibited better verbatim and semantic recall memory performance than friends. These findings are discussed in relation to the multidimensional nature of common ground and the importance of more natural conversational tasks.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Queen's University's Thesis/Dissertation Non-Exclusive License for Deposit to QSpace and Library and Archives Canada
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
CC0 1.0 Universal
ProQuest PhD and Master's Theses International Dissemination Agreement
Intellectual Property Guidelines at Queen's University
Copying and Preserving Your Thesis
This publication is made available by the authority of the copyright owner solely for the purpose of private study and research and may not be copied or reproduced except as permitted by the copyright laws without written authority from the copyright owner.
CC0 1.0 Universal