Schmolk(contempory) Flashcards
What was the aim of Schmolcks study?
To look at the relationship between performance on a semantic memory test and the extent of lateral temporal lobe damage to find out to what extent it is involved in semantic memory.
What was the sample for Schmolks study?
-3 people with medial temporal lobe damage including HM.
-3 people with medial temporal lobe damage and amnesia.
- 8 control people
How many tasks did Schmolk do?
13
What are some tasks the participants did?
-Pointing toa picture with a description.
-Naming items after given a description.
-Category sorting
What tasks did HM not complete?
tasks 10-13
What were the results of Schmolk study?
-Those with only MTL damage were able to name and answer questions about objects with considerable accuracy (similar to the control group) and HM did the worse in this group.
-Those with MTL damage and amnesia performed less well and had difficulty thinking of examples.
What is the conclusion from the study?
MTL+ patients had a greater difficulty the MTL suggesting they the anterolateral temporal cortex is responsible for semantic knowledge.
Why is Schmolk’s study not generalisable?
-Only include 6 people and they all had the same unique experience so it is not representative.
Why is the study relaible?
It is a lab study so it is very standardised so it is easier to repeat and test for reliablity.
Why is the study valid?
-Research agrees with Schmolks findings on semantic memory.
-Used matched pairs to minimise participant variables.
How can the study be applied to real life?
Useful for people with semantic dementia so you can understand the illness and highlights a very important brain area.
Why is the study not valid?
Had low mundane realism and ecological validity as a lab study so less applicable to real life.
Which ethical guidelines did the study not maintain?
-Informed consent- may not fully understand what is happening or what they need to do.
-Confidentiality- Everyone knows who HM is and he was not given privacy.
What things were all participants matched on and what research design is this?
-Age, sex and education.
-Matched pairs.
