Baddeley & Hitch's Dual Task Study (memory)

Question 1

aim

Answer 1

to test if doing two tasks which use the same system would increase the difficulty of the task

Question 2

method

Answer 2

participants given a visual task as well as one of two others:
1. to describe the angles of the letter F
2. to perform a verbal task

Question 3

results

Answer 3

• participants struggled to complete the visual task at the same time as describing F
• this is because both tasks use the visuo-spatial sketchpad

Question 4

conclusion

Answer 4

• doing two tasks which require the same slave system increases the difficulty of the task
• this suggests there are separate slave systems for different types of information

Question 5

weaknesses (2)

Answer 5

• study does not reflect how memory is used in real life - lacks mundane realism
• carried out in a lab - lacks ecological validity

Question 6

strength

Answer 6

carried out in a highly controlled lab environment - increases validity