respondents are shown the front page, are asked they remember

When the respondents are shown the front page or the cover page of a publication with the name blacked out and are asked whether they remember, reading that particular issue is called

1. unaided recall
2. masked recall
3. recognition recall
4. aided recall

Correct Ans: (B)

Explanation:
Masked recall plays a key role in audience memory testing. Researchers use it when they want to find out whether people remember a specific issue without revealing its name. They show the cover page or front page but black out the publication’s title. This way, participants respond based on visual memory—not brand familiarity.

This method checks how much impact a design or image made. For example, if a magazine used a bold or emotional cover image, masked recall shows whether that image stuck in the reader’s mind. Without brand labels, there’s no bias. That’s why masked recall feels more natural and honest than aided recall.

Moreover, this technique helps media teams refine how they design, place, and promote covers. If people fail to remember, it signals a need for improvement. If they succeed, it confirms strong engagement.

Masked recall also helps advertisers. They learn whether a campaign actually captured attention. Since no names or logos are shown, the result reflects pure recall.

So, the correct answer is masked recall. It removes identity clues and focuses on what people truly remember from the page—just as it appeared.