Bartlett- Reconstructive Schema theory

Question 1

How is memory reconstructive?

Answer 1

It is remembered through schemas- we remember the schemas, and they can distort how we retrieve a memory.

Question 2

What is a schema?

Answer 2

Particular feelings or facts we relate to certain things (we hate school etc)

Question 3

Explain the War of the Ghosts study

Answer 3

Participants were told a story and asked to recall it later. Each participant recalled it in a different way, and the story had been distorted by their schemas (to make it relate to their culture). It proves schema theory

Question 4

What are the four things that memory is prone to?

Answer 4

Distortion, Rationalization, Transformation, Simplification.

Question 5

Evaluative strengths

Answer 5

There is lots of evidence (WOFTG).
The evidence is reliable.
There are important applications (testimonies, eyewitness accounts).

Question 6

Evaluative weaknesses

Answer 6

It doesn’t explain how memory is stored/ just focuses on retrieval.
WOFTG study lacks validity (wasn’t standardized).
WOFTG study was deliberately written to distort the recall.