2.3.3 Contemp- S & H-G (2012)

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To analyse development of phonological loop of WM
> Analyse developmental pattern of phono loop btwn 5-17 yrs and changes from ageing/dementia (1st n 2nd conds)
> See if word length affects digit span(Anglo saxon vs Spanish speakers)

Question 2

IV and DV?

Answer 2

IV- Ppts year of schooling/ year group

DV- Mean digit span

Question 3

Sample?

Answer 3

• Students
  > Spanish, 5-17 yrs
• No learning difficulties (same control of cog diffs- control of pp variables)
• Split into 5 groups; each condition = diff ages
• Volunteer samples

Question 4

Procedure?

Answer 4

• Ppts tested individually during their breaktime
  1) Digit sequences were read aloud to ppts, one digit/sec
  2) Started w 3 sequences of 3 digits, if ppts recalled digit order correctly then another digit was added
  3) Digits span measure was the largest no. of digits in a sequence recalled correctly 2/3 times w no error

Question 5

Results? (student sample)

Answer 5

• Digit span incr w age from 5-17 years, peaks at 17 (Spanish) max digit span =7
  > Contrasts w anglo-saxon data (secondary data) as they peak at 15 yrs. Max digit span= 5
  » Spanish words are longer so require more subvocal rehearsal and longer word processing/ chunking so digit span is larger

Question 6

Results (Dementia/elderly sample)

Answer 6

• Subvocal rehearsal could be the difference in diff elderly ppts memory
  > Digit span declines w age
  » Healthy elderly ppts had digit span 7
  Dementia- digits span of 6 yr old
• Key takeaway- digit span affect by age not dementia

Question 7

GRAVE-Generalisability

Answer 7

P-Low
E-Sample consisted of 570 students aged 5-17 who were native Spanish speakers
E- W, the sample is ethnocentric and a small age bracket, may not be generalisable to wider multicultural pop or larger age brackets as findings may be culturally determined so decr pop V for studying phonological loop developments in WM.

Question 8

GRAVE-Reliability

Answer 8

P-High, other research has show cultural issues in digit span
E- Study concluded how Spanish speakers digit span= 7, whereas english is 15. Also true for Welsh speakers who have poorer digit spans than Eng due to longer word length, supports concl that phono loop n language.
E-S, high inter-rater R as other researchers have had similar findings in terms of digit span and phono loop being associated w language

2.P- High, standardised proceds
E- Student sample was ensured to have no learning difficulties, also required to recall digits in multiple sequences, beginning w 3 sequences w 3 digits, one digit read loud per sec
E- S, high test- retest R

Question 9

GRAVE- Application

Answer 9

P-Yes
E-Mean digit span indicates the quantity of info that students of each age group can remember at a given time,
E-S, therefore, study findings can support in understanding the phono loop in children and help develop teaching and study methods to help this

Question 10

GRAVE-Validity

Answer 10

P-High eco V
E-Field exp, ppts were students in their natural environment at school, study took place during their breaks
E-S, Students were more likely to act naturally, decr likelihood of demand characteristics so findings are more valid for studying phono loop development in children (Spanish speakers)

2.P-Low mundane realism
E-Task of recalling digits in a sequences is artificial
E- W, decr overall ext V

3.P-High int V
E- Standardised proceds, digits of each sequence were read @ constant rate of 1 per sec. Students chosen w/no visible learning/cog difficulties
E-S, helped to control some EVs that couldve potentially affected the findings on phonological loop development, incr int V.