Memory: Peterson And Peterson (1959)

Question 1

Aim of Peterson and Peterson’s study (1959) is to…

Answer 1

Investigate the duration of STM

Question 2

The method of Peterson and Peterson’s study (1959) is…

Answer 2

24 undergrad students presented with a consonant trigram. Rehearsal prevented by asking them to count backwards. After intervals of 3,6,9,12,15 or 18 seconds to over 30 seconds participants were asked to stop counting and to repeat the trigram.

Question 3

The results of Peterson and Peterson’s study (1959) were…

Answer 3

After 3 secs delay 80% recall, After 18 secs 10% recall, After 30 secs no trigrams recalled.

Question 4

The conclusion of Peterson and Peterson’s study (1959) is…

Answer 4

Duration of STM is 30 secs or less if maintenance rehearsal is blocked. The info fades from STM because of trace decay.

Question 5

Peterson and Peterson (1959) strength: lab experiment

Answer 5

Lab experiment so establishes cause and effect. High control over extraneous variables so we can be confident that it’s the IV that’s affected the DV. Strength cos results not affected by confounding variables. High internal validity.

Question 6

Peterson and Peterson (1959) limitation: low ecological validity.

Answer 6

Participants presented with a trigram and recalling it is an artificial and simple task which doesn’t test the true complexity of memory. Limitation cos results can’t be generalised to real life. Not externally valid.