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level: Grant (C)

Questions and Answers List

level questions: Grant (C)

QuestionAnswer
Aim- To test the effect of noise on the studying and retrieval of meaningful material in an academic context
Theory the study is based on- CONTEXT DEPENDENT MEMORY - The idea that retrieval is best when in the same environment as when the learning happened
Why did grant carry this study- To see whether amount of noise would affect tests because exams are held in silent conditions but students tend to study in noisy conditions/listening to music
Research method- Lab study - Independent measures – individual differences though
Data- Quantitative data
Independent variable- The 4 conditions: silent silent, noisy noisy, silent noisy, noisy silent
Dependent variable- The test scores of the short answer 10Qs and the multiple choice 16Q
Sample- 39 participants from 17yrs-56yrs
How was the sample recruited- 8 psychology students recruited 5 acquaintances each (one participant was excluded from results) - OPPORTUNITY SAMPLING
Procedure- Each participant was asked to read 2 page article ONCE - Reading time was recorded - Participants either read in noisy conditions or silent - After 2 minutes they were given 2 tests: -10Q short answer to test RECALL -16Q multiple choice to test RECOGNITION
How was the 'noisy' condition achieved?- Wore headphones of a recording of cafeteria at lunchtime
Why was the short answer test given before the multiple choice test?- To ensure material was being recalled from article and not the multiple choice test
What article did they read? WHY?- PSYCHOIMMUNOLOGY - Its an interesting read but not a familiar subject
Results- Silent-Silent: average of 6.7 and 14.3 - Noisy-Noisy: average of 6.2 and 14.3
Evaluation of results- Differences in reading time - For both tests, results better in MATCHING conditions - No significant pattern for performance on test with individual condition
Conclusions- No overall effect of noise on performance - As context-dependent affects retrieval in both tests, students should study in quite surroundings (like test environment)
Valid- Highly controlled lab experiment, high design validity - Standardised - Theory, control, evidence, replication
Ecologically valid- Article ecologically valid, educational - Not part of a lesson, some heard artificial background noise which reduced the ecological validity - They were not typical examination conditions
Reliability- Standardised procedure eg. the recording and use of headphones - But reading time varied and so may lead to different results
Sampling bias- Opportunity ample - Convenient especially in a uni situation - Good age spread - The sample may have been bias as only friends of the experimenters were used, demand characteristics
Ethical issues- Consent - Briefed + debriefed
Ethnocentricism- Conducted in America - Findings may have been different to individuals who has not had western education
Not ethnocentric- Cognitive processes such as reconstructive memory is the same in all cultures
Psychology as a science- Controlled laboratory experiment, had theory, control, evidence + replication
Individual vs situational debate- The situation/environment in which we revise affects the performance on exams - As opposed just to individual factors
How does research by Grant et al relate to the cognitive area- Cognitive process of memory + context dependent memory - Showed that context dependency effect on both recall and recognition
How does research by Grant et al. relate to the key theme- Memory - Retrieval is best when in the same environment as when the learning happened, context dependent memory
Similarities in both studies- Both highly controlled laboratory experiments - Uni - Independent measures design - Conducted ethically - Quantitative data
DifferencesLoftus and Palmer - Larger sample - Reconstructive memory - Fixed durations of films Grant - Smaller sample - Context dependent memory - Reading time differed
How does the study of Grant improve our understanding of memory?- Investigated different aspects of memory - context dependent memory - So we now know that retrieval is best when in the same environment as when the learning happened
How does the contemporary study improve our understanding of individual, social and cultural diversity? INDIVIDUAL DIVERSITY- Focuses on how the memory of individuals can be improved or distorted - Grant found that recall is also affected by cues + settings, compared to L+P would only focused on post-event info
How does the contemporary study improve our understanding of individual, social and cultural diversity? SOCIAL DIVERSITY- Danger in eyewitness testimony as it relies on accuracy of memories - Led to changes to the criminal justice system - Doesn’t further our understanding of social diversity, both used America uni students
How does the contemporary study improve our understanding of individual, social and cultural diversity? CULTURAL DIVERSITY- Can both explain cultural differences, factors that influence memory recall - Both ethnocentric but nomothetic explanation of behaviour that can be applied to different cultures - Further research would need to be carried out in other cultures to establish if these are nomothetic
+ Background to the study- Godden and Baddeley (1975, 1980) showed that context effects recall tests more than recognition tests - Suggesting there are differences in the retrieval process involved in the two types of tests