Baddely 1966

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Find out if LTM encodes acoustically similar or semantically. By giving pps word lists that are similar in the way they sound or there meanin, if pps struggled to recall word order it suggests LTM is confuse by similarity which means it is how LTM tends to encode

Question 2

Procedure

Answer 2

Pps split into 4 groups according to IV 1 and 2
Each views a slideshow of a set 10 words each word appears for 3 seconds
After the 4 learning trials groups were given 15 minute inference task involving copying 8 digit sequences at their own pace
After pps were given a surprise retest on the wordlist sequence

Question 3

Results

Answer 3

LTM is not confused by acoustic similarities
Semantically similar words seemed to be more confusing than semantically dissimilar

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

LTM encodes semantically which is why they get muddled
Can retrieve acoustically similar words easy as it doesn’t pay attention to sound
STM encodes acoustically

Question 5

Generalisability

Answer 5

Sample of 72
15 people in each group so anomaly would make a difference to results lacking pop validity so not representative how entire pop encodes memory
All British so cannot generalise to other cultures
Volunteer sample - pps may have volunteered as they have a good memory so enjoy doing memory tests. Not representative to people who have a bad memory, lacks pop validity so can’t be generalised how rest of public encodes long term memories

Question 6

Reliability

Answer 6

Uses standardised procedures, same words same order and same time to recall, easily replicated
Improved reliability using slides to show words as some pps have hearing difficulties

Question 7

Application

Answer 7

For other psychologists who have built in Baddeleys research and investigated LTM I’m greater depth
Also if LTM encodes semantically, to revise makes sense to use mindmaps using semantic links. But reading passages over is acoustic coding so wouldn’t be as effective

Question 8

Validity

Answer 8

Internal validity (construct validity) - got pps to recall the order of words which reduced chance that recall was made easier by meaning of words to people or if they were unfamiliar
Used control groups for both conditions
Lacks ecological validity as recalling a list of words is artifical and doesn’t resemble real world scenario which could have lead to demand characteristics

Question 9

Ethics

Answer 9

No ethical issues