Table 2.

Suggestions for creating experimental paradigms that minimize monitoring and isolate spontaneous retrieval.

1.Use an event-based prospective memory task with as many of the following characteristics as possible. a.Use a single focal target cue. b.Minimize cues or demand characteristics (such as the title of the experiment) that suggest to participants that you are interested in their prospective memory. c.Emphasize the importance of the ongoing task, minimize the importance of the prospective memory task, and remind participants of the importance of the ongoing task from time to time. d.Use many trials on the ongoing task and delay the onset of the first target. Also, limit the number of occurrences of the target event. e.Do not specify the order of performing the prospective memory and ongoing task responses. That is, f.Make it clear to participants that they can perform the prospective memory response at any point after seeing the target (including several trials later). 2.Use a suspended (or completed) intention paradigm.