2.3.1 - Classic study

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

to see if LTM encodes semantically (or acoustically)

Question 2

Procedure x 4

Answer 2

• experiment 3 was a lab experiment with 2 IVs in an independent group design, 1) acoustically similar word list or acoustically dissimilar 2) semantically similar word list or semantically dissimilar and 1 was repeated measures 3) performance before 15mins forgetting delay and performance after
• there were 75pp, both men and women from Cambridge university subject panel - ‘Applied psychology research unit’ (volunteers), 3 were excluded after a hearing test = 72pp
• each list of ten words were presented on a projector in a set order with 1 word every 3 seconds which was followed by an interference task of 6 tasks involving memory for digits (to prevent rehearsal)
• given 40s to recall the order of list of words then repeated procedure 3 more times so that there were 4 repeated trials, ensuring the learned words were in the pps LTM by trials 3 and 4

Question 3

results x 3 + conclusion

Answer 3

Results:
- pp showed no sig diff in forgetting acoustically similar to dissimilar
- pp recall was sig lower with semantically similar than the control group due to semantic confusion
- around 50% semantically similar words recalled in trial 4 compared to 85% of semantically dissimilar

conclusion
- LTM is good at picking out semantic differences

Question 4

Strengths x 2

Answer 4

R - The study was reliable as it had well controlled procedures. For example there were 10 words shown; 1 word every 3 seconds. Therefore the study can be replicated in other countries to test reliability of conclusions drawn about encoding in the LTM and test for consistency

A - The study can be applied to society. Results found around 50% semantically similar words recalled in trial 4 compared to 85% of semantically dissimilar. Therefore it can inform students on how to revise as the LTM is encoded semantically so students should use revision techniques eg mind maps with semantic links

Question 5

Weaknesses x 2

Answer 5

G - The study in not G. pp’s were 72pp, men and women from Cambridge ‘Applied psychology research unit’ in England. Therefore it is not representative of other cultures or people with eg brain damage

V - The study lacks task and ecological validity as the task of recalling a list of 10 words in a lab at Cambridge university does not represent memory in real life. Therefore we don’t know if pp’s memory would encode in the same way in a natural environment doing everyday tasks