Paper 2 - Grant et al on context-dependent memory

Question 1

What is the context-dependency effect ?

Answer 1

Recall is better when the person is in the same environment during the recall as they were when they were learning the material

Question 2

What is the aim of this study ?

Answer 2

To test the effect of a noise as a source of context on the studying and retrieval of meaningful material in an academic context

Question 3

What was the sample of this study ?

Answer 3

8 experimenters in a psychology class each recruited 5 pps by opportunity sampling. This concluded 40 pps but one was excluded, meaning there was 39 American pps.
17-56 years old
17 females 22 males
independent measures design

Question 4

What were the independent variables ?

Answer 4

Reading condition (silent or noisy)
testing condition (silent or noisy)

Question 5

What were the dependent variables ?

Answer 5

Reading time
Performance on multiple choice test out of 16
performance on short answer test, out of 10.

Question 6

What type of study is this ?

Answer 6

Experimental laboratory study.

Question 7

Explain the procedure

Answer 7

1. Participants all wore headphones. However half of them had no sound. For pps In the noisy condition, background noise was played through headphones which was a tape made in the uni cafeteria at lunch time, this was played moderately loud.
   2.Participants were given a 2 page article on psychoimmunology, their reading time was recorded
2. 2 minute break
3. They completed 2 tests, one was a short answer question test with 10 Q on and the next one was a multiple choice test which has 16Q on it.

Question 8

What were the results collected

Answer 8

Overall test scores…
silent-noisy: 79%correct
silent-silent: 81% correct
noisy-noisy: 67%correct
noisy-silent:70%correct

mean reading time…
silent-noisy: 11.8
silent-silent: 15.0
noisy-noisy:14.0
noisy-silent: 13.8

Question 9

What were the conclusions/discussion points

Answer 9

As there was no independent effect of noise on performance, it can be concluded that noise doesn’t effect performance
Working in silence doesn’t make learning and recall more effective, we shouldn’t insist that students work in silence
Context-dependence affects the retrieval of both tests, so students should study in the environment which reflects where they will be assessed.

Question 10

Evaluate the research methods used

Answer 10

The laboratory environment allows for highly controlled conditions and standardised instructions, decreasing the effect of extraneous variables which allows for high internal validity and high reliability. However, some students were tested in the dorms which could create extraneous variables, decreasing validity and relaibility.
Independent measures design allowed for no order effects (fatigue, bordem and practice), however it allows for participant variables.
The control variable of all participants wearing headphones eliminated a variable that may have effected the validity of the data collected - it ensures that no other independent variables are affecting the dependent variable.

Question 11

Evaluate the sample

Answer 11

its an unrepresentative sample as students are used to receiving complex materials to study. Also, its a small sample.

Question 12

Evaluate the data

Answer 12

Quantitative data is objective and statistical conclusions can easily be made to compare the effect of different contexts. However, no qualitative data means lack of detail on how the noise affected the pps performance, it suggests simplistic answers to complex questions.

Question 13

Evaluate the ethnocentrism

Answer 13

Only American students were used. American cultures learn in classrooms however, other cultures don’t.

Question 14

Evaluate the validity

Answer 14

• The highly controlled lab environment allowed for variables such as all participants wearing headphones to be controlled. This maintained the internal validity and reliability to ensure that no other variables were affecting the dependent variable.
• However, some participants completed the experiment in their dorm rooms, meaning that there was low control over extraneous variables- they may have been disracted. So these particiapants’ data may not reflect their true ability of memory.
• Smith (1982) found that learning in a variety of contexts means the context dependency effect disappears. Also, meaning meaningful associations with the work stops the effect. This decreases the accuracy of the conclusions.

Question 15

Evaluate the ethics

Answer 15

• Informed consent was given
• Deception was eliminated as all pps were debriefed
• Data was kept anonymous
• Protection from harm - bad scores may have effected the students mentally and they may have been embarrassed.

Question 16

Evaluate the reliability

Answer 16

• The laboratory environment allows for highly controlled conditions and standardised instructions, decreasing the effect of extraneous variables, so it can easily be repeated .
• However, being tested in the dorms could create extraneous variables.

Question 17

where does this study fit with new understandings ?

Answer 17

Grant illustrates the context dependency effect with relation to noise however, he adds no new important findings

Question 18

where does this study fit with psychology as a science?

Answer 18

• Scientific
• Lab environment - high control over extraneous variables
• standardised instructions - reliability and validity
• It supports theories of memory which have real life applications, e.g. for revision

Question 19

where does this study fit with the nature/nurture debate ?

Answer 19

Nurture - The environmental context of being in a matched or mismatched condition of silent and noisy conditions affected the learnig and recall (memory) of important information.