Duration of Memory Studies: Sperling

Question 1

Who was the main researcher?

Answer 1

Sperling

Question 2

what year was the study done?

Answer 2

1960

Question 3

what was the aim of the study?

Answer 3

investigate the sensory register

Question 4

Method: Lab, Neutral, Field

Answer 4

lab study

Question 5

Method

Answer 5

Participants were shown a grid with three rows of four letters for 0.05 seconds
They had to immediately recall the whole grid or one of the rows indicated by a tone

Question 6

high tone

Answer 6

top row

Question 7

medium tone

Answer 7

middle row

Question 8

low tone

Answer 8

bottom row

Question 9

when was the tone played

Answer 9

straight after the grid disappeared

Question 10

Results

Answer 10

whole grid: four or five letters on average

one row: three letters on average

Question 11

conclusion

Answer 11

the whole grid could be remembered by the sensory memory and after the participants had been told what row to recall, the memory had already started to decay

Question 12

Evaluation: Lab study

Answer 12

highly scientific

Question 13

Evaluation: Variables

Answer 13

The variables could be controlled

Question 14

Would it be easy for someone to replicate the study?

Answer 14

Yes

Question 15

Evaluation: Ecological Validity

Answer 15

Due to the artificial setting of the study, it means that it lacks ecological validity