Final answer:
Patty Procrastinator likely remembered most of the words right after studying them, but due to the forgetting curve, she would start forgetting them quickly, with a significant loss after the first 20 minutes. Contextual memory aids could help her remember better.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patty Procrastinator studied the fifty words on her vocabulary list right before her test. Then she tried to immediately recall them after turning the list over. According to the research by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, Patty probably remembered a majority of the words initially, but due to the forgetting curve, she would likely begin to lose the information quickly.
Ebbinghaus found that an average person loses 50% of the memorized information after 20 minutes, and 70% after 24 hours because of storage decay. It is also important to note that contextual learning and making connections between new information and existing knowledge can enhance memory retention. Using meaningful contexts, patterns, and associations such as through the use of flashcards can improve memorization and recall of new vocabulary.