2.2.2 - 2.2.10 Methodology: Baddeley study experiment 3

Question 1

What was the aim of experiment 3?

Answer 1

To see whether LTM would improve over time - specifically, if in LTM acoustic similarity of words would lead to more memory impairment than semantically similar

Question 2

What was the method of experiment 3?

Answer 2

1. Ppts put in 4 groups + given a word list
2. 10 words presented on projector showing 1 word every 3 secs in correct order
3. After, did interference task - 6 tasks involving memory for digits
4. After 4 trials, given 15 min interference task - copying 8 digit sequences at own pace
5. Given surprise retest

Question 3

Why were the words presented?

Answer 3

So ppts could focus on order not learning

Question 4

What were the designs used?

Answer 4

Independent measures (trials 1-4), and repeated measures (trial 5)

Question 5

What were the independent variables?

Answer 5

• Acoustically similar or dissimilar list
• Semantically similar or dissimilar list
• Performance before 15 min “forgetting” task, and performance after (repeated measures)

Question 6

What was the dependent variable?

Answer 6

Score on recall test of 10 words, words must be in correct order

Question 7

What was the control used?

Answer 7

Using words that are often used so familiarity controlled

Question 8

What was the sample used?

Answer 8

Lab experiment, 72 men + women from the ‘The Applied Psychology Research Unit’

Question 9

What were the 4 groups used?

Answer 9

G1 (experimental) = acoustically similar - man, cab, can, max
G2 (control) = acoustically dissimilar - pit, few, cow, pen
G3 (experimental) = semantically similar - great, large, big, huge
G4 (control) = semantically dissimilar- good, huge, hot, safe

Question 10

What were the results?

Answer 10

Shows that STM is encoded acoustically and LTM is encoded semantically