Classic study: Baddeley (1966b) Flashcards
What was the overall aim of Baddeley’s study?
- To find out if LTM encodes acoustically or semantically
- To investigate if acoustically similar words would lead to more impairment in the LTM than semantically similar
What type of experiment did Baddeley use?
Lab experiment
What was the sample of Baddeley’s study?
- 72 ppts (males and females)
- From the Cambridge university
What were the four conditions of the study?
Condition A = acoustically similar
Condition B = acoustically dissimilar
Condition C = semantically similar
Condition D = semantically dissimilar
Describe the procedure of the study
- Condition A involved 10 acoustically similar words (e.g. man, can)
- Condition B involved 10 acoustically dissimilar words (e.g. pit, few)
- Condition C involved 10 semantically similar words (e.g. large, big)
- Condition B involved 10 semantically dissimilar words (e.g. good, hot)
- Each list of 10 words were presented on a projector in a set order, one word every 3 seconds
- Afterwards the 72 ppts were asked to complete 6 tasks involving memory for digits to prevent rehearsal
- They were then given 1 min to recall the words in order
- This was repeated over 4 trials
- After the 4 trials the groups were given a 15 minute interference task involving copying 8 digit sequences
- Ppts were then given a surprise retest on the word sequence of their condition
What is the IV and DV?
IV = Acoustically/semantically similar/dissimilar word lists
DV = Number of words recalled in the correct order
Why were there 4 trials?
To ensure that the words had been transferred to LTM
What were the results of Baddeley’s study?
- Acoustically similar words were harder to recall than acoustically dissimilar words
- Semantically similar words were harder to recall than semantically dissimilar words
- Performance was overall better on the semantic condition than on the acoustic one
What was the conclusions of Baddeley’s study?
LTM encodes semantically as on the fifth trial. Baddeley concluded this from the results from the fifth trial, showing that performance of the semantic condition was better than the acoustic condition
What is a strength of Baddeley’s study?
Generalisability - PEECA
P - Has high generalisability
E - For example, a large sample size of 72 participants was used, involving both males and females
E - Therefore, this makes it representative of how memory functions in a wider population.
CA - However, the sample was only British volunteers, making it ethnocentric as it doesn’t consider the memory of other cultures
What is a strength of Baddeley’s study?
Reliability - PEE EE
P - Has high reliability due to standardised procedures
E - For example, all ppts saw 10 words for 3 seconds each and they all completed the 8 digit inference task
E - Therefore, the study can be easily replicated and tested for consistency
E - In addition, quantitative data is collected to find the words recalled in both semantic and acoustic conditions
E - Therefore, the data is easy to analyse and compare, and is scientific
What is a strength of Baddeley’s study?
Application - PEE
P - Has applications
E - The findings can be used to inform students of revision techniques as the study suggests that long-term memory encodes semantically
E - Therefore, if LTM encodes semantically, students can use techniques such as mind maps or flashcards that create semantic links rather then re-reading notes as this encodes information acoustically
What is a weakness of Baddeley’s study?
Validity - PEE
P - Has low task validity
E - For example, the procedure involves recalling a list of 10 words which are either acoustic/semantic similar/dissimilar within 1 minute
E - This isn’t a daily task which tests our everyday memory so it may not be an accurate reflection of how our memory works outside of basic recall tests. Therefore, it lacks mundane realism and validity
