Bartlett's - 2

Question 1

Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory

Answer 1

1. Bartlett proposed that memories are not stored as an exact form but rather notes and an outline of what we experienced
2. When recalling these memories, the notes are simple retrieves and elaborated on using general knowledge called schemas (unique to us)
3. Memories are not exact copies of an event but rather an active reconstruction
4. This contradicts the idea that memory is retrieved perfectly. It suggests our memories are full of blanks and we use schema to help remake the memory.

Question 2

Active reconstruction

Answer 2

memory is not an exact copy of what we experienced, but an interpretation or reconstruction of events that are influenced by our schema when we remember them again

Question 3

Schema in terms of memory

Answer 3

a packet of knowledge about an event, person, or place that influences how we perceive and remember

Question 4

How schemas are formed

Answer 4

1. according to Bartlett, schemas are formed throughout our lives through experience
2. we build schemas through personal experiences
3. some schemas are shared within a particular culture which other schemas are unique and personal to us

Question 5

How schemas influence memory

Answer 5

1. Using various pictures and stories Bartlett tested how schemas influence memory
2. He found that over time, people recalled the pictures and stories differently because they were influences by their schemas
3. They cause us to ignore or change details when we recall them through: omissions, transformations, familiarisation, and rationalisation

Question 6

omissions

Answer 6

1. leaving out something unfamiliar, irrelevant, or unpleasant details when recalling something
2. schemas simplify the information

Question 7

transformation

Answer 7

1. details are changed to make them more familiar and rational
2. a reconstructive error of memory, involving changing the original information.

Question 8

rationalisation

Answer 8

1. type of transformation
2. a reconstructive error of memory, involving changing to something logical
3. adding details to give a reason for something that may not have originally fitted with a schema

Question 9

familiarisation

Answer 9

1. type of transformation
2. a reconstructive error of memory, involving changing the original information to something which we know well.
3. changing unfamiliar details to align with out own schema

Question 10

Strengths of Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory

Answer 10

1. it has real-world application and helps to understand why memory can become distorted - used by the police as an interviewing technique
2. Used folk stories and images and asked participants to remember them for hours, days, or even years later. This is a realistic use of memory so it is ecologically valid

Question 11

Weaknesses of Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory

Answer 11

1. developed his theory by reading through and interpreting the pictures and stories reproduced by participants and gave him own interpretation of the material so his results may be subjective and unscientific
2. was not particularly scientific and did not have standardised procedures and controls which may weaken the research

Question 12

Cognitive interview

Answer 12

a police interview designed to ensure a witness to a crime does not actively reconstruct their memory

Question 13

Bartlett War of the Ghosts

Answer 13

1. 1932
2. Bartlett wrote about experiments that he conducted using pictures and folk stories: one of which is the war of the ghosts story
3. Chose this story because it is unfamiliar to the students and colleagues at Cambridge University who were involved in the story
4. He hopes that the unfamiliarity of the story would shed light on the reconstructive nature of memory because his participants would be more likely to draw on their schemas to recall it

Question 14

War of the Ghosts

Answer 14

Story used by Bartlett to test reconstructive nature of memory

Question 15

Aim of War of the Ghosts

Answer 15

to test the nature of reconstructive memory using an unfamiliar story, looking at whether or not personal schemas influence what is remembered from the story

Question 16

Procedure of War of the Ghosts

Answer 16

1. participants were asked to read the story twice

2. Bartlett used both serial reproduction and repeated reproduction

Question 17

Procedure of War of the Ghosts - Serial Reproduction

Answer 17

1. participants were asked to read the story and retell the story to another participant 15 to 30 minutes later
2. the second person will tell the third person and so on

Question 18

Procedure of War of the Ghosts - Repeated Reproduction

Answer 18

1. same participant is asked to write out the story after 15 minutes
2. They were then asked to recall the story several minutes, hours, days, months, and years later

Question 19

Results of War of the Ghosts

Answer 19

1. Used qualitative analysis to look for and interpret changes to the stories that were recalled.
2. Found that repeated reproductions tended to follow a similar form, which means that the theme or outline of the first reproduction tended to remain in later reproductions
3. For both types of recall, participants tried to make sense of the odd story by giving it meaning. This resulted in additions or changes such as making connections or giving reasons for events which is known as rationalisation
4. Participants tended to leave out unfamiliar or unpleasant parts of the story especially unfamiliar place names
5. Many details became familiarised and simplified

Question 20

Conclusion of War of the Ghosts

Answer 20

1. Bartlett interpreted the results as evidence for the active and constructive nature of memory
2. Participants did not recall the story fully or accurately
3. Instead they omitted details that did not fit with their schema and some details were altered by the influence of their schema.

Question 21

Strengths of War of the Ghosts

Answer 21

1. Remembering a story is more naturalistic as a test of everyday memory than digits giving the study ecological validity
2. Results are reliable as he found that participants have the tendency to omit and transform the material when remembering
3. Gathered through qualitative analysis and data which is a strength because the real nature of reconstructive memory can be understood through its meaning - statistical analysis was uncommon for psychologists at this time

Question 22

Weaknesses of War of the Ghosts

Answer 22

1. The story was not familiar and was illogical and contained strange words and concepts; remembering the story was not an everyday task of a realistic use of memory after all
2. qualitative analysis can be unscientific because Bartlett could have interpreted the participants recalled stories through his own schemas
3. Not all participants were asked to recall the story at the same time and each participant to read the story at their own normal reading pace so the study can lack control. It does not have a standardised procedure.

Question 23

Statistical analysis

Answer 23

mathematical calculations performed on data to see whether the findings could be due to chance