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系列全扫描抑或自我终止扫描：对Sternberg记忆提取实验结论的再审视（局限辨析）

Full-sequence Scanning or Self-Stop Scanning: A Reexamination of Sternberg’s Memory Retrieval Experiment Conclusions (With Limitations Analysis)

黄炼, 万国平, 黄子妍, 戴雨潼

Psychology of China / 2026,8(5): 721-724 / 2026-05-20 73 112

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• Information:

  西南医科大学，泸州

• Keywords:
  Sternberg; Short-term memory; Information retrieval; Serial full-scan; Self-stop scan; Reaction time paradigm
  斯滕伯格; 短时记忆; 信息提取; 系列全扫描; 自我终止扫描; 反应时范式
• Abstract: In his short-term memory retrieval experiment, Sternberg first had participants memorize a set of 1-6 numbers, then presented target numbers and asked them to quickly determine whether they belonged to the memory set and respond accordingly. Results showed that reaction time increased linearly with the number of items in the memory set, and the slopes for “yes”and “no” responses were similar. Based on these findings, Sternberg proposed that shortterm memory retrieval employs full-sequence scanning—verifying all items sequentially before making a judgment. This study highlights significant methodological and inferential limitations of this paradigm, demonstrating that a single fullscanning model fails to account for the diverse empirical evidence. The paper argues that short-term memory retrieval is not a fixed full-sequence scanning process but rather a flexible, hybrid strategic processing mechanism adaptable to task contexts. 斯滕伯格在短时记忆信息提取实验中，先让被试记忆1—6个数字构成的记忆集，随后呈现探测数字，要求被试快速判断是否属于记忆集并按键反应。结果发现，反应时随记忆集项目数增加呈线性增长，且“是”与“否”反应的斜率相近。据此他提出，短时记忆提取采用系列全扫描，即依次检查所有项目后再作出判断。本研究指出，该范式在方法与推论上存在明显局限，单一全扫描模式难以解释多元实证证据。本文认为，短时记忆提取并非固定的系列全扫描，而是可随任务情境灵活切换的混合策略加工过程。
• DOI: 10.35534/pc.0805107 (registering DOI)
• Cite: 黄炼, 万国平, 黄子妍, 戴雨潼. (2026). 系列全扫描抑或自我终止扫描: 对Sternberg记忆提取实验结论的再审视 (局限辨析). 中国心理学前沿, 8 (5), 721-724.