(c) andrade

Question 1

What is doodling?

Answer 1

A drawing, sketch or pattern created to pass time, rather than for a specific purpose.

Question 2

psychology investigated

Answer 2

attention and memory

Question 3

What is the definition of attention?

Answer 3

The concentration of mental effort on a particular stimulus.

Question 4

What is divided attention?

Answer 4

The ability to split mental effort between two or more simultaneous tasks.

Question 5

What is the definition of memory?

Answer 5

The encoding, storage, and retrieval of information, potentially leading to long term retention.

Question 6

What was the sample size and demographic of Andrade’s study?

Answer 6

40 individuals (35 female, 5 male), aged 18 to 55 years old.

Question 7

What was the aim of Andrade’s study?

Answer 7

To investigate whether doodling affects or improves concentration in a (boring) task

Question 8

What is incidental memory?

Answer 8

Information that you do not focus on but you can recall.

Question 9

What are some potential effects of doodling on attention?

Answer 9

• May enhance concentration
• May reduce daydreaming
• May maintain optimal arousal levels

Question 10

What are the two conditions used in Andrade’s study?

Answer 10

• Doodling condition
• Control condition

Question 11

What type of sample was used in Andrade’s study?

Answer 11

Opportunity sample.

Question 12

What was the length and content of the recorded telephone message used in the study?

Answer 12

2.5 minutes, 227 words per minute, containing names of partygoers and other information like places, people who aren’t going etc.

Question 13

What were participants instructed to do in the doodling condition?

Answer 13

Shade shapes and write target words in the margin

Question 14

What does attentional narrowing refer to?

Answer 14

Only paying attention to appropriate cues.

Question 15

What were the target items participants were supposed to recall from the telephone message?

Answer 15

• 8 target names
• 8 place names

Question 16

What was the primary activity participants engaged in during the study?

Answer 16

Doodling or not doodling while listening to a boring mock telephone message

Question 17

What were the two main dependent variables (DVs) measured in the study?

Answer 17

1. number of correct names - number of false alarms
2. number of correct places recalled - false alarms

Question 18

What was a key conclusion from Andrade’s study?

Answer 18

Doodling improves concentration and leads to better recall of information

Question 19

What design was used in the study, independent or dependent measures?

Answer 19

Independent measures design

Question 20

List two strengths of Andrade’s study.

Answer 20

• High level of control in a lab setting
• High reliability and standardization of procedures

These strengths increase confidence that the IV caused changes in the DV.

Question 21

List two weaknesses of Andrade’s study.

Answer 21

• Low ecological validity due to the artificial doodling task
• Unrepresentative sample, mostly females from the UK

These weaknesses may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Question 22

What ethical issue was present in Andrade’s study?

Answer 22

Participants were deceived about the memory test

Question 23

What type of sample was used in Andrade’s study?

Answer 23

Opportunity sample

Question 24

What does the independent measures design help to reduce?

Answer 24

Order effects

Question 25

What did the researchers do to ensure participants were equally bored?

Answer 25

Used a visually dull room and standardised instructions

Question 26

What was the main effect observed from the doodling condition?

Answer 26

Significantly improved performance in memory recall
(Participants in the doodling condition recalled more names and places than those in the control condition.)