Sebastian and Hernandez-Gil (2012) Contemporary Study

Question 1

Aim?

Answer 1

To investigate the development of the phonological loop in the children between the ages of 5 and 17 years using digit span as a measure of phonological capacity

Question 2

Sebastian et al also wanted to compare the findings to

Answer 2

their previous research of adult, aged and dementia patients

Question 3

There were 570 volunteer participants which enhances the generalisability although

Answer 3

because they are only taken from Madrid it is questionnable as to whether the findings can represent other cultures

Question 4

Participants were tested individually and had to read increasing sequences of digits to

Answer 4

recall in the correct order after they were read out at a rate of one digit per second

Question 5

The digit span for participants was recorded as the maximum digit recalled

Answer 5

in the correct order without error

Question 6

The results showed a developmental trend of digit span increasing with age as

Answer 6

children have a very low digit span that steadily rises until around 11 years

Question 7

The digit span between 15 and 17 is fairly

Answer 7

stable

Question 8

Their previous findings showed that elderly participants had a significantly higher digit span compared to

Answer 8

5 year olds in this study, but it was not signifcantly different from other age groups

Question 9

Patients with advanced dementia showed a similar profile with a mean digit span of 4.2 to

Answer 9

the children

Question 10

Patients with frontal variant frontotemporal dementia had a digit span that was

Answer 10

significantly similar to the younger age group

Question 11

Comparing the elderly group to the dementia patients showed no significant difference which suggests that

Answer 11

impoverished digit span was a consequence of aging rather than dementia

Question 12

Likewise with anglo saxon data, digit span increased with

Answer 12

age

Question 13

The overall capacity digit span was by far lower than anglo saxon data probably because of the word length effect

Answer 13

as spanish numbers are pollysyllabic therefore they use up more space in the articulatory rehearsal systen that english monosyllabic numbers

Question 14

As sub-vocal rehearsal does not appear until 7-8 years, there should be no difference in digit span as a result of word length effect until

Answer 14

after this age which was found to be true

Question 15

Since we rarely use verbal memory in this way in real life (because we use it to understand sentences)

Answer 15

therefore the study lacks mundane realism

Question 16

Although the task isn’t like real life, digit span tests have been reliably linked to performance in real use of verbal memory therefore

Answer 16

this suggests that digit span is a good measure of verbal memory

Question 17

Evidence for the word length effect is

Answer 17

Ellis and Hennelley (1980) reported poorer digit span in welsh kids - longer words and Stigler et al (1986) reported longer digit span for chinese because shorter words

Question 18

A large sample was used which suggests the findings are reliable although

Answer 18

it is questionnable to whether the results can be generilised to other cultures

Question 19

Results from 5yr olds?

Answer 19

3.14

Question 20

Results from 6-8yr olds?

Answer 20

4.34

Question 21

Results from 9-11yr olds?

Answer 21

5.13

Question 22

Results from 12-14yr olds?

Answer 22

5.46

Question 23

Results from 16-18yr olds?

Answer 23

5.83

Question 24

Results from AD patients?

Answer 24

4.20

Question 25

Results from fvTD patients?

Answer 25

4.22

Question 26

Results from Elderly?

Answer 26

4.44