Reconstructive memory & schemas

Question 1

Who proposed the idea of reconstructive memory?

Answer 1

Bartlett (1932)

Question 2

What is a schema?

Answer 2

A mental framework of beliefs and expectations based off previous experiences which allow us to make sense of things and fill in gaps in our knowledge

Question 3

What is meant by input in terms of reconstructive memory?

Answer 3

Perception of an event

Question 4

What is meant by processing in terms of reconstructive memory?

Answer 4

Interpretation of an event

Question 5

What is effort after meaning?

Answer 5

When people try to make sense of a situation in terms of what they already know by using schemas

Question 6

How does information get distorted?

Answer 6

Our schemas reconstruct our memories by filling in gaps

Question 7

What is meant by rationalisation?

Answer 7

Getting rid of something from a memory to help it make sense using our schemas

Question 8

What is meant by confabulation?

Answer 8

Making something up in a memory to help it make sense using our schemas

Question 9

What is a strength of Bartlett’s reconstructive memory?

War of the ghosts study - PEE

Answer 9

P - Supporting evidence from Bartlett’s war of the ghosts study
E - He tested British ppts’ recollection of a Native American folk tale and found that they altered the story, such as people dying at sunset or missing out parts completely such as the ghosts.
E - Therefore, this shows that rationalisation and confabulation are used to make sense of something unfamiliar, using our schemas

Question 10

What is a weakness of Bartlett’s reconstructive memory?

Treyan and Brewer (1989) - PEE

Answer 10

P - Opposing evidence from Treyan and Brewer (1989)
E - They placed objects in an office that are not commonly associated with that environment and told ppts to sit there for a number of minutes before being called in for a ‘job interview’ in which they were asked to recall the objects. They found that the majority recalled the unusual items such as the skull.
E - This is not what is predicted using the schema theory as ppts would have disregarded unusual items with rationalisation otherwise

Question 11

What is a strength of Bartlett’s reconstructive memory?

Application EWT - PEE

Answer 11

P - Can be used to explain problems with eye-witness testimonies
E - Research on EWT (e.g Loftus and Palmer, 1974) have subsequently shown that people do not always recall what they see or hear accurately
E - Therefore, we can provide solutions such as informing juries of the inaccuracies of EWT and not convicting on EWT alone due to its unreliability