Sebastian And Hernandez Gil 2012

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

Investigate development of phonological loop in children 5-17 using digit span
Compare findings to previous research on adults, aged and dementia patients

Question 2

Digit span

Answer 2

Memory span and capacity of STM without rehearsal

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

570 volunteer
Madrid 5-17
No hearing / reading / writing difficulties

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

• 5 age groups ( cross sectional not longitudinal)
  -Primary data of 570 Spanish volunteers aged 5-17 were used
  A list of digits were read aloud, one per second with each of the 3 lists starting with 3 digits
  Each time the ppts recalled the list in order, one more digit was added
  The most number of digits recalled accurately indicated the digit span
  This data was then compared with secondary data of the digit spans of 25 healthy people and 25 Alzheimer’s patients

Question 5

Conclusion

Answer 5

Increased from 5-17 yo
Spanish shorter than English ( longer words) (subvocal rehearsal w WMM)
Elderly compared to dementia showed no sig difference, poor digit span consequence of age not dementia

Question 6

Results younger ages

Answer 6

5 yo low digit span (3.76)
6-8 (4.34)
9 - (4to5)
11 - (5.13)

Question 7

Results (elderly and dementia)

Answer 7

Elderly had shigher than 5 year olds
Patients w Alzheimer’s 4.2
Healthy old people 4.44

Question 8

Generalisability

Answer 8

• high pop valid as sample was large
• could be generalised to target population

Question 9

Reliability

Answer 9

Standardise procedure - good controls e,g time of day, stimuli shown)
High internal validity study could be replicated

Question 10

Application

Answer 10

Can be applied to wider pop due to tracking transformations of digit span across ages
Gives idea of what age learning becomes easier
Can give aid to primary school and how students are educated

Question 11

Validity

Answer 11

Artifical tests could decrease as demand characteristic
Not representative of how STM works in everyday life
Ecologically valid as set in school

Question 12

Ethics

Answer 12

Children under 16 so would have to get consent through parents
Patients with dementia makes them vulnerable adults

Question 13

Credibility

Answer 13

Supports WMM - proof of phonological loop and supports other studies