practical Flashcards
aim
To investigate the effect of acoustic similarity on recall from short-term memory.
experimental hypothesis
Participants will accurately recall a greater number or acoustically dissimilar words (out of 10) than acoustically similar words (out of 10) from short term memory in sequential order.
null hypothesis
There will be no difference in the number of acoustically similar and dissimilar sounding words recalled (out of 10), from STM in sequential order any difference will be due to chance factors.
research method
lab experiment
independent variable
dependant variable
sample
We used volunteer sampling to get participants – people chose to take part and contacted us for the research. We placed the poster in the school sixth from centre and there were contact details on that poster on how to participate and who to contact.
We used a sample of 10 participants – 5 male and 5 female aged 16-18
procedure
- Pps selected using volunteer sampling – poster displayed in school sixth form centre with e-mail contact details, asking if they would like to participate in a Psychology study on memory.
- Brief was given before research study – aim of study – memory, recall words, right to withdraw from recalling words, and to withdraw data on word recall, consent was given by participants
- Standard procedure – 2 word lists – monosyllable, high frequency (10 acoustically similar, 10 acoustically dissimilar words), displayed at 2 second intervals, on a screen.
- Pps were tested in a controlled environment – a school classroom.
- Pps were tested as a group – repeated measures design was used – all participants were shown both lists of words, acoustically similar and acoustically dissimilar).
- Recall each word lists in order, immediately after they were displayed – within 20 seconds.
- Words were displayed on A4 paper around the room – they were tested on the sequence of word not learning them.
- Pps were debriefed and offered right to withdraw their data from the findings – word list recall and they were reassured their memory was in the normal range. They were also told the full aim of the study which was to investigate the influence of acoustic similarity on learning and recall in STM.
apparatus list
Two word lists on a PowerPoint – 10 acoustically similar and 10 acoustically dissimilar.
Each word was on a sheet of A4 paper.
Computer screen, calculator pen and paper.
controls
The study has good internal validity which refers to whether a measure actually measures what it claims to be measuring. As the experiment was conducted in a controlled, laboratory environment. The learning of words and recall activity with acoustically similar and dissimilar words was conducted in a classroom environment, to avoid extraneous variables and distractions whilst the pps were learning and recalling from STM.
ethical issues
- Informed consent – the participants consented to take part in a research study. The participants were told it was a study on memory recall and consented as a volunteer where they chose and agreed to take part.
- Deception – the participants were not told the full aim of the study. Participants weren’t told it was a study on the effect of acoustic similarity of words on recall of STM, to avoid demand characteristics.
- Right to withdraw – participants were offered the opportunity to leave the study at any point without a consequence. Participants were told they could stop the word recall at any point, and their data (word list recall score) could be removed form the study on encoding in STM.
stats statement
The calculated value of T= 23 is greater than the critical value of 11 for a one tailed test at P 0.05, with n= 10. Therefore the result is not statistically significant and the Null hypothesis (H0) can be supported which states that There will be no difference in the number of acoustically similar and dissimilar sounding words recalled (out of 10), any difference will be due to chance factors.
strength of validity
Good internal validity – controls such as the words were displayed on the wall – sequence order rather than memory of words (acoustic similarity effect on recall from STM).
Possible extraneous variables - noise levels.
improvement of validity
Do not disturb sign to ensure silence as focused on acoustic encoding. Avoid extraneous variable – noise levels
strength of reliability
Good as standardised instructions, word lists, timing – so easily to repeat study. Also same brief
Words on PPT screen ‘clicked’ so not same timing.
