BADDELEY

Question 1

What was the aim of Baddeleys study?

Answer 1

To establish whether STM and LTM encode information in different ways (acoustically or semantically)

Question 2

What does acoustically and semantically similar mean?

Answer 2

Acoustically - words that sound similar - e.g bat, cat, cot
Semantically - words with similar meaning - e.g big, large, giant

Question 3

How many pps were in Baddeley’s sample? - groups, gender, age ?

Answer 3

72 men + women, mostly student volunteers, only 15-21 pps per group

Question 4

Baddeley’s independent measures design

Answer 4

Baddeley split his pps into 4 independent variable groups - semantically similar/dissimilar and acoustically similar/dissimilar

Question 5

Baddeley’s study - Method

Answer 5

1. Each group was shown a list of 10 words via a projector (each word shown for 3 seconds)
2. Pps then had to complete 6 interference tasks revolving around digits
3. They were then asked to recall the order of the word list in 1 minute
4. Process was repeated over 4 ‘learning trials’
5. Pps then took part in a 15 minute interference task
6. They were then given another SURPRISE retest

Question 6

Baddeley’s study - Results

Answer 6

• Recall of acoustically similar words was worse than the dissimilar words during the initial learning trials - however in he surprise retest, recall of the acoustically similar and dissimilar words were not significantly different
• In the surprise retest, recall of semantically similar words was worse than the dissimilar words

Question 7

Baddeley’s study - Conclusion

Answer 7

• As pps recall of acoustically similar words was impaired in the learning trials, Baddeley concluded that encoding in the STM is largely acoustic
• As pps recall of semantically similar words was impaired in the surprise retest , Baddeley concluded that encoding in the STM is largely semantic

Question 8

Baddeley’s study - Generalisability

Answer 8

• Pps recruited using a volunteer sampling method (good memories?)
• Large sample of 72 males + females
• Groups of only 15-21 pps (anomalies?)

Question 9

Baddeley’s study - Reliability

Answer 9

• A standardised procedure was used
  (10 words, 3 seconds)
• Easy to replicate for consistent results
• Used a projector to show the words for people who might be hearing impaired

Question 9

Baddeley’s study - Application

Answer 9

• By demonstrating that LTM codes semantically, students can promote storage of information into LTM when revising
• Results support our knowledge of memory and aid later work such as the development the MSM

Question 10

Baddeley’s study - Validity

Answer 10

• Laboratory experiment - lacks ecological validity, not a normal task to be given and therefore does not demonstrate how memory works on a day-to-day basis
• High internal validity - all extraneous variables were controlled, meaning he was confident of the IV affecting the DV
• Volunteers may show demand characteristics, however the impact was minimised as Baddeley did not tell pps they would have to recall the order after the interference tasks (this means memory recall would be similar to everyday life)

Question 11

Baddeley’s study - Ethics

Answer 11

• Pps may have found tests stressful, however, no major ethical issues (not worth mentioning)

Question 12

What year was Baddeley’s classic study conducted?

Answer 12

1966