An investigation of the saving‐enhanced memory effect: The role of test order and list saving

Saving information onto external resources can improve memory for subsequent information—a phenomenon known as the saving-enhanced effect. This article reports two preregistered online experiments investigating (A) whether this effect holds when to-be-remembered is presented before saved and (B) people choose most advantageous strategy given free choice of which to save. Participants studied lists words; test order list was (and re-presented again later) were manipulated. The only found first (List A) tested after second B). When save, participants preferred save List A, but it recalled B—that is, benefited memory. These findings suggest boundary conditions that offload profitable information.