Sentence complexity eliminates the mnemonic advantage of bizarre imagery

Research has consistently shown that bizarre sentences are better remembered than common sentences when bizarreness is manipulated within-subjects, memory is assessed with free recall, and the processing instructions emphasize the use of imagery. Even though previous research conforms remarkably to this pattern, a recent exception to this pattern (Kroll, Schepeler, & Angin, 1986, Experiment 1) suggests that there are additional factors that control bizarre imagery effects. Several methodological factors were experimentally examined to try to identify the reason for the discrepancy between the Kroll et al. findings and the rest of the literature. The results indicated that the complexity of the stimulus materials can eliminate the bizarreness effect. Several explanations for this finding are discussed.