Bartlett (1932)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To investigate the effect of cultural schemas on the reproduction and recall of an unfamiliar folk tale.

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

20 English male participants, Cambridge Uni. Laboratory quasi experiment, repeated serial production method. Particpants read the story ‘The war of the ghosts’ twice, & after 15 minutes participants were asked to reproduce the story aloud from memory. Participants left & returned 20 hours later, to tell story again, & more times after at varying intervals. Serial reproduction also used, participants heard story & wrote what they recalled, read this to next person & so on for 6-7 participants.

Question 3

Results

Answer 3

Results were the same for both methods. Recall changed with each reproduction. Difficult for people from British culture to recall due to unfamiliarity. Story became shorter, remained coherent, & began to fit the cultural background of participants (English story).

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

People reconstruct the past into existing schemas by trying to find a pattern in experiences. Memory is reconstructive in nature & Bartlett illustrates the effect of cultural schemas on memory recall.

Question 5

Strengths

Answer 5

• High ecological validity.

* Participants did not receive standardised instructions.

Question 6

Limitations

Answer 6

• IV did not affect DV, therefore no cause and effect relationship was established
• No control group