reconstructive memory - Bartlett

Question 1

how do people record memories

Answer 1

not exact copies by try to make sence of it in terms of what they already know from schemas

Question 2

what do schemas do to memories

Answer 2

distort unfamiliar info to fit in with existing knowledge

Question 3

what is a schema

Answer 3

package containing all our stored knowledge of aspects of the world

Question 4

what happened in the war of the ghosts study

Answer 4

rationalisation - ppts made thing make sense to them to fit in own schema by missing things out
confabulation - added info so they make more sense, drawing on previous experience

Question 5

evaluate reconstructive memory

Answer 5

+ supported by war of the ghosts, details changed to match ppts schema, memories and reconstructions not reproduction
- unreliable evidence, very few controls when read and recalled, no standardised instructions, may be flawed
+ useful for police and juries, EWT may not be reliable, not solely relied on
- wrong to suggest memories are inaccurate or affected by schema, ppts often recalled some black came out of his mouth becuase its unusual
+ loftus and palmer
- war of the ghost is an unusual story which doesnt make complete sense, if results arent valid credibility of theory is affected