Grant - CONTEMPORARY Flashcards
What is context-dependent memory?
Individuals tested in the same area as where material was learned
This concept suggests that memory retrieval is improved when the context of learning and testing is the same.
What was the aim of Grant’s study?
To demonstrate the positive effects of context on memory
Grant’s research specifically focused on how the environment influences memory recall.
Method of Grant?
Laboratory experiment and independent measures design
This design allows for the comparison between different groups of participants under controlled conditions.
How many participants were involved in Grant’s study?
39 participants
The original sample was 40, but one participant produced outliers.
What were the demographics of the participants in Grant’s study?
17 females and 23 males, aged between 17-56
This diverse age range and gender distribution provides a broader perspective on memory performance.
What sampling method was used to select participants in Grant’s study?
Opportunity/convenience sampling
This method involves selecting participants who are readily available and willing to participate.
Materials/Apparatus?
Headphones, cassette player (containing background noise from canteen in university during
lunchtime), two-page article called Psychoimmunology and a questionnaire containing 16 multiple-choice questions and 10 short-answer questions
Procedure?
30 minutes long
1)
participants given instructions and informed that participation was voluntary
2)
participants read article once and are informed of a comprehension test
3)
all participants wore headphones (even silent condition) as a control, as a control variable reading times recorded and 2 minute break given
participants informed of condition and then completed short-answer and multiple choice questions
6)
debrief given
Results?
Significant effect when in matched conditions; ie silent-silent / noise-noise
Highest test scores - silent-silent condition
Conclusions?
There are context-dependency effects for newly learned meaningful material regardless of whether a short-answer test or a multiple-choice test is used to assess learning.
Studying and testing in the same environment leads to enhanced performance.
Students are likely to perform better in exams if they study for them in silence, although there was no overall effect of noise on performance, the fact that there was evidence for context-dependency suggests they are better off studying without background noise as it will not be present during actual testing.
Strength of lab experiment?
High internal validity
Lab experiments are designed to control extraneous variables, allowing for more accurate conclusions about cause and effect.
Weakness of lab experiment?
Low ecological validity
Lab experiments often lack real-world applicability due to their artificial settings.
Strength of using Independent measures design?
No order effects
Participants are only exposed to one condition, eliminating potential biases from their experience in multiple conditions.
Less time consuming
This design allows researchers to gather data more quickly as each participant contributes to only one condition.
Weakness of independent measures?
Participant variables
Individual differences among participants that can affect results
These variables can introduce bias if not controlled, influencing the outcome of the study.
Validity
+ Internal validity - highly controlled
- Predictive validity - small sample size so hard to generalise
- External validity - not common to wear headphones in silence
