Chapter 9 : Manipulation and improvement of memory

Question 1

True or False.

Human memory is prone to errors and distortions.

Answer 1

True.

Question 2

Name the three main measures of retention.

Answer 2

Recall, recognition and relearning.

Question 3

Define recall.

Answer 3

Recall involved reproducing information stored in memory.

Question 4

What are the three types of recall?

Answer 4

Free recall, serial recall and cued recall.

Question 5

Compare each of the three types of recall.

Answer 5

Free recall involves reproducing as much information as possible in no particular order.
Serial recall involves reproducing the information in the order in which it was presented.
Cued recall involves the use of specific prompts to aid retrieval and the reproduction of the required information.

Question 6

True or False.

Information that cannot be recalled means that it is not available and is not stored in LTM.

Answer 6

False.

Question 7

Define recognition.

Answer 7

Recognition involves identifying the correct information from among alternatives.

Question 8

Why is recognition considered to be a more useful method of retention than recall?

Answer 8

Because the recognition method provides more useful cues that assist in locating and retrieving information stored in LTM.

Question 9

True or False.

Recognition is a more sensitive measure of retention than recall (including cued recall).

Answer 9

True.

Question 10

Define relearning.

Answer 10

Relearning involves learning information again that was previously learned and stored in LTM.

Question 11

Of the three measures of retention, which measure is considered to be the most sensitive?

Answer 11

Relearning.

Question 12

True or False.
If information is learned more quickly the second time, it is assumed that some information is retained from the first learning experience.

Answer 12

True.

Question 13

What is another term for relearning?

Answer 13

Method of savings.

Question 14

State the formula for the method of savings.

Answer 14

Savings = (No. of trials for original learning) - (No. of trials for relearning) over the (No. of trials for original learning) * 100%

Question 15

What does the sensitivity of a measure of retention refer to?

Answer 15

The ability to assess the amount of information that has been stored in memory.

Question 16

What is the sequence/order for the relative sensitivity of the three measures of retention?

Answer 16

Relearning - Recognition - Recall.

Question 17

Name the two main types of cues.

Answer 17

Context dependent and state dependent cues.

Question 18

Define context dependent cues and provide examples.

Answer 18

Context dependent cues are environmental cues in the specific situation where the memory was formed that act as retrieval cues to help locate the memory formed in that context. For example, the sights, sounds and smell within the specific situation.

Question 19

Define state dependent cues and provide examples.

Answer 19

State dependent cues are associated with the individual’s internal physiological and/or psychological state at the time the memory was formed, and act as retrieval cues to help locate those memories. For example, emotions experienced at the current situation.

Question 20

What are mnemonic devices?

Answer 20

Mnemonic devices are techniques for improving or enhancing memory.

Question 21

Name the three mnemonic devices.

Answer 21

Acronyms, acrostics and narrative chaining.

Question 22

True or False.

Mnemonic devices simplify information stored in LTM.

Answer 22

False. They make it more elaborate.

Question 23

What are acronyms?

Provide an example.

Answer 23

Acronyms are pronounceable words formed from the first letters of a sequence of words.
ANZAC is an abbreviation for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Question 24

What are acrostics?

Provide an example.

Answer 24

Acrostics, or the first letter technique, involves making verbal associations for items to be remembered by constructing phrases or sentences using the first letters of the information to be remembered.
For example, “Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit” are names of the musical notes on the lines of a staff.

Question 25

What is narrative chaining?

Provide an example.

Answer 25

Narrative chaining involves linking otherwise unrelated items to one another to form a meaningful sequence or story.
For example, to remember the words “bird, dinner, homework, laugh”, the story of “A bird ate my dinner while I was doing my homework, which made me laugh”.

Question 26

Summarize research conducted by Elizabeth Loftus on eyewitness testimony.

Answer 26

Loftus concluded that the use of leading questions can be used to manipulate memory, specifically the reconstruction of memory. This often occurs unintentionally. Thus, the use of leading questions that contain “misleading” information can distort an individual’s memory.