Core studies - Cognitive Psychology - Grant Study

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To test for context dependency effects caused by the presence or absence of noise during learning and retrieval of meaningful material

Question 2

Research method

Answer 2

• Laboratory experiment
• Independent measures deign

Question 3

What was the IV

Answer 3

• Whether the participant read the two page article under either silent or noisy conditions
• Whether the participant was tested under matching or mismatching conditions to which they first encoded the information

Question 4

What was the DV

Answer 4

• The participants performance on a short answer recall test out of 10
• The participants performance on a multiple choice recognition test out of 16
• Overall score out of 26

Question 5

Sample

Answer 5

• 39 participants
• Aged 17-56 years
• 17 females and 23 males

Question 6

Sampling method

Answer 6

Opportunity sampling

Question 7

How were participants gathered

Answer 7

• 8 experimenters
• Each experimenter recruited 5 acquaintances
• 1 participant’s results were omitted from the analysis

Question 8

What materials were used

Answer 8

-Cassette tapes
-Background noise was collected at a noisy lunchtime at a Uni cafeteria
-Psychoimmunology article
-The recognition and recall test
-Headphones

Question 9

Procedure

Answer 9

1. Ppts were read aloud standardised instructions that described the tasks as part of a class project and emphasised that they were voluntary.
2. Ppts read the article once and were told that they could highlight/underline as they read.
3. They had been told that they would have to complete a short-answer and multiple-choice task based on the article.
4. Each Ppt was tested individually and the procedure lasted approximately 30 minutes in total with a 2 minute break between the learning and testing phase. Ppts in all conditions wore headphones in the learning and testing phase
5. After the 2 minute break, ppts were given the recall test first, followed by the recognition test
6. The ppts were then debriefed on the true aim of the study

Question 10

Procedure Step 1

Answer 10

1. Ppts were read aloud standardised instructions that described the tasks as part of a class project and emphasised that they were voluntary.

Question 11

Procedure Step 2

Answer 11

2. Ppts read the article once and were told that they could highlight/underline as they read

Question 12

Procedure Step 3

Answer 12

3. They had been told that they would have to complete a short-answer and multiple-choice task based on the article.

Question 13

Procedure Step 4

Answer 13

4. Each Ppt was tested individually and the procedure lasted approximately 30 minutes in total with a 2 minute break between the learning and testing phase. Ppts in all conditions wore headphones in the learning and testing phase

Question 14

Procedure Step 5

Answer 14

5. After the 2 minute break, ppts were given the recall test first, followed by the recognition test

Question 15

Procedure Step 6

Answer 15

6. The ppts were then debriefed on the true aim of the study

Question 16

Results for Silent-Silent condition

Answer 16

Mean percentage score of 81%

Question 17

Results for Noisy-Noisy condition

Answer 17

Mean percentage score of 79%

Question 18

Results for Silent-Noisy condition

Answer 18

Mean percentage score of 68%

Question 19

Results for Noisy-Silent condition

Answer 19

Mean percentage score of 70%

Question 20

Overall finding

Answer 20

Performance was significantly better in matching conditions than in non-matching conditions

Question 21

Conclusions

Answer 21

1. There are context dependency effects for newly leaarned meaningful material regardless of whether a short answer test or multiple choice test
2. Studying and testing in the same environment leads to enhanced performance

Question 22

Link to Key Theme

Question 23

Link to Area