Practical Investigation

Question 1

What are the aim of your Cognitive Psychology core practical?

Answer 1

To conduct a laboratory experiment to investigate the influence of acoustically similar and acoustically dissimilar word lists, measured by a score out of 10 in the correct order

Question 2

What was the one-tailed hypothesis of your Cognitive Psychology core practical?

Answer 2

Participants will recall more acoustically dissimilar words in the correct order from a list of 10 compared to a list of acoustically similar words (out of 10)

Question 3

What were the participants of your Cognitive Psychology Core Practical? (2 points)

Answer 3

20 students completed the experiment in their classrooms for 30 minutes

Split using an independent groups design - randomly allocated into groups of 10

Question 4

What was the procedure of your Cognitive Psychology Core Practical? (4 points)

Answer 4

1. Each group was visually presented with either 10 acoustically similar or dissimilar words - each one for 2 seconds
2. Interference task: 6-digit span presented and recalled
3. 20 seconds to recall 10 words in the correct order
4. Standardised script read aloud to inform the students of the true aim and the results after data collection

Question 5

What were the results of your Cognitive Psychology Core Practical? (3 points)

Answer 5

Mann Whitney U test used - level of data is O/I/R and independent groups design used

Calculated U value = 22.5
Critical value at p=0.05 = 27
Significant difference at p=0.05 for one-tailed test when Na/Nb = 10

Experimental hypothesis accepted and null rejected at p=0.05

Question 6

What were 2 strengths of your Cognitive Psychology Core Practical?

Answer 6

BPS ethical guidelines abided by - all students informed of right to withdraw at beginning, middle and end

Reliable
+ Same standardised script read aloud
+ Same interference task and allocated time for word lists to be recalled
+ Easily replicable by other cognitive psychology researchers

Question 7

What were 2 weaknesses of your Cognitive Psychology Core Practical?

Answer 7

Lack of IV
+ Words were only presented visually so results may have been different if presented acoustically
+ Individual differences like memory could affect results

Lack of TV - recalling word lists after doing an interference task has low mundane realism