Cognitive: Grant

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

to show that environmental context can have more positive effect on performance on a memory test when the material is learnt in the same place

Question 2

method

Answer 2

lab

Question 3

design

Answer 3

independent measures

Question 4

IV

Answer 4

> whether pps read 2 page article under silent or noisy conditions
matching or mismatching conditions

Question 5

DV

Answer 5

> score on short answer questions /10
score on multiple choice /30

Question 6

sample

Answer 6

> 39 pps 17-56 years old 17f 23m
8 psychology students as experimenters
each exp recruits 5 pps from acquaintances

Question 7

procedure- stimuli

Answer 7

> each exp provides own cassette player and headphones
8 cassettes made form master tape of uni café noise
2 age 3 column article on psychoimmunology
SAQ and MCQ
each exp has 1 pp in each condition and 1 extra

Question 8

procedure

Answer 8

> pp debriefed
read article once
told that comprehension would be tested at end
wore headphones while reading
reading time recorded
2 min break to minimise short term memory use
SAQ- control- taken first so no hints from MCQ
MPQ
debriefed

Question 9

results

Answer 9

> silent/silent- 6.7
noisy/nosiy- 6.2
performed better in matched conditions than in mismatched

Question 10

conclusions

Answer 10

> context dependent effects for new material
studying and testing in same environment leads to better performance
students are likely to perform better if they studied with a minimum of background noise so that it matched the examination context