C- Schema Theory

Question 1

What is Schema theory?

Answer 1

• It is a mental structure that allows for the organisation and processing of new information with the use of a framework of preconceived ideas
• Integrate new info with existing
• new information is processed under the influence of our past experience and existing schema

Question 2

Why are schema used?

Answer 2

• our memory is reconstructive
• several data points are used that are related to the schema of the object/event/person being recalled- NOT EXACT- RECONSTRUCTED

Question 3

how are schema adapted?

Answer 3

-ASSIMILATION- a new experience is understood in terms on an existing schema
- ACCOMODATION- an existing schema is modified to fit a new experience

Question 4

what is top down processing?

Answer 4

• schema are used in the process of percieving reality- not only based on 5 senses
• use past knowledge, expectations and stereotypes tp seek out semspry sata that ‘completes the picture’
• they are used to make sense of the world

Question 5

what is bottom up processing?

Answer 5

perception occurs from the use of all the information available to us from our senses- no schema/bias used

Question 6

what is the brewer and treyens 1981 study?

Answer 6

• A- To investigate the role of schema in the encoding and retrieval of episodic memory
• M- 86 students took part- out into a room under pretence of waiting for study to begin- made to look like an office made up of schema consistent and inconsistent items. They were then taken into the next room and asked to recall the items in the room- free recall as a drawing/written, or guided with a questionnaire- verbal/written.
• R- Free recall methods- more likely to remember items congruent with their schema.
  Verbal/written recognition methods- more likely to remember the unusual incongruent answers, and also items that were congruent but not in the room.
• C- schema must play a role in active recall- can see that they were relied upon during the study. Therefore is used in the encoding and retrieval of episodic memory

Question 7

Evaluation of Brewer and Treyens 1981

Answer 7

+ use of deception meant that demand characteristics (adaption of behaviour to fit a given task/environment) were not shown- therefore schema were investigated rather than memory as a whole.
- deception brings up some ethical concerns
- schema of students before study not investigated- cannot be sure which items were consistent/ inconsistent- students, may not have seen an office before.

Question 8

what was the Bartlett 1932 study?

Answer 8

• A- to investigate whether memory is reconstructive and how the memory of a story is affected by previous knowledge, and if cultural background would lead to distortion.
• M- Bartlett told participants a native American legend called the war of the ghosts- participants British- Not familiar to them therefore could see how memory was reconstructed. 2 types- repeated reproduction, serial reproduction (told to one person who then retold it to another)
• R- overall remembered main themes but changed unfamiliar evidence to meet cultural expectations.
  Types of distortion:
  
  • Assimilation- became consistent with participants cultural expectations
  • Levelling- became shorter with each retelling sue to omission seen as not important.
  • Sharpening- change order of story to make sense of it- more familiar.
• C- remembering is not passive but active, and information is changed to fit into existing schemas based on connected meaning- memories are a reconstruction, not copies of experiences.

Question 9

Evaluation of bartlett 1932

Answer 9

+ a true experiment
- not rigourously controlled, participants not given clear instructions
- not clear about the role of culture- no control group