Classic Study - Baddeley (1966b)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

• to find out if LTM encoded semantically or acoustically

Question 2

sample

Answer 2

• 72 participants of men and women
• 15-20 in each sample
• from cambridge unis

Question 3

procedure

Answer 3

• lab experiment using independent groups design
• split into 4 groups (acoustically similar, dissimilar, semantically similar, dissimilar)
• shown slide of 10 words for 3 secs
• acoustically similar = list of words sound similar
• semantically similar = list of words that share similar meaning
• must recall the words from the slideshow in order to
• repeat 4 times so participants get better with time

Question 4

results

Answer 4

• at first acoustically similar list was lower than dissimilar loss but after repeating there was no significant forgetting of similar list, but there was in the acoustically dissimilar list
• no significant difference between semantically similar and dissimilar even after repeating

Question 5

conclusions

Answer 5

• LTM encodes semantically and STM encodes acoustically

Question 6

generalisability

Answer 6

• large sample so can generalise
• anomaly in condition groups could skew data so not generalisable
• all British volunteers so words may have some memorable qualities to these words for British people but LTM works for all people so probably generalisable
• volunteer sample so may have more people who enjoy doing memory tests so not representative

Question 7

reliability

Answer 7

• standardised procedures (10 slide shows for 3 secs) so easy to replicate so reliable
• don’t need special equipment and can use the same words that baddeley used

Question 8

application

Answer 8

• Baddeley and Hitch built on this and developed working memory model
• if LTM encodes semantically then it makes sense to revise using mind maps

Question 9

validity

Answer 9

• baddeley used controls to improve the internal validity as he asked participants to recall word order not actual words
• lacks ecological validity as not something you would do in real life
• baddeley made the “5th forgetting” trail which was a surprise trail that participants weren’t expecting which is similar to real life when we have to recall random things therefore improves validity