Evaluation for KC3

Question 1

Research

Answer 1

Evidence for this comes from research by Bartlett. His participants showed evidence of shortening, rationalisation and confabulation. They struggled to accurately recall the details of an unfamiliar story.

Question 2

Applications

Answer 2

Important for things such as eye witness testimony. Before our understanding of memory developed we believed that what a witness said was always accurate, unless they were choosing to lie. Now we understand that someone could unintentionally give inaccurate information. Courts are a lot more careful when it comes to evidence from witnesses.

Question 3

Weaknesses

Answer 3

This ignores the fact that many memories are actually accurate and many things are memorable BECAUSE they do not fit in with our schemas. Often we recall things that are unusual rather than fitting in with our schema. For example, if you saw someone walking down the street dressed as a chicken you would remember that accurately even though it goes against what your schema would tell you was there.