Abstract
The digit span task has long been a vital component in assessing working memory in both clinical and research contexts. Martin's (1978) two-experiment research established that digit span performance reflects order-information retention rather than mere memory capacity. The following study aimed to replicate Martin’s second study methodology using a larger and more diverse sample to enhance generalizability, employing modernized testing procedures. English and French participants (n = 79) between 17 and 74 years of age, with varying levels of education and backgrounds, were asked to complete a 45- to 60-minute study, which included order recall and digit span tasks. While our results generally support the hypothesis that digit span is a predictor of memory performance, they only partially align with Martin's original findings. We observed significant but weaker correlations between digit span scores and strict recall scores (r = 0.32, p = 0.004) compared to Martin's original report (r = 0.63, p = 0.01). Conversely, we found a significant increase in correlation with lenient recall scores (r = 0.34, p = 0.002), indicating a shift in performance patterns. Notably, our participants exhibited nearly a 50\% decline in average performance compared to those in the original study, suggesting potential external influences on outcomes. Future research should consider integrating a verbal span test to simultaneously assess item and order memory and explore how factors such as age and demographic variables influence performance. This approach would provide insights into generational effects and contextual influences on memory processing.