Cognitive Approach

Question 1

What are schemas?

Answer 1

Schemas are mental representations that are derived from prior experience and knowledge

Question 2

Which studies explore schemas?

Answer 2

Bartlett (1932) and Brewer & Treyens (1981)

Question 3

The aim of bartlett (1932)

Answer 3

The aim of the study was to investigate how the memory of a story is affected by previous knowledge

Question 4

The procedure: Bartlett (1932)

Answer 4

• All participants were British
• Each participant was told a Native American Story, which was completely native to participants
• Participants were divided into two groups, 1. repeated production, 2. Serial production
• 1. Repeated production: Participants heard the story and were asked to rewrite the story after a short period of time and to do so after a number of days, months years
• 2. Serial production: Had to recall the story and repeat it to another person

Question 5

Results of Barlett Study

Answer 5

• Bartlett found there was no significant difference between the way the groups recalled the story
• Both groups changed the story as they recalled it through a process of distortion
• three steps of distortion: Assimilation; Story became consistent with their own cultural expectations. Leveling; Story became shorter. Sharpening; story tended to change the story to make sense of it
• Bartlett states that memories are not copies of experiences but rather a reconstruction.
• Remembering is not passive but an active process