ket study - Brewer and Treyens (1981)

what is the key study of the cognitive approach?

brewer and trey end 1981 - office schema study

what was the aim of the study?

to study the effect of pre-existing schema on memory

outline procedure

in a controlled laboratory experiment participants were shown into a room which They believed was the experimenters office and was told to wait for 30 to 50 seconds . once they left the office they were asked to write down everything they could remember about the room.

what were the findings?

• Most of the participants remembered the schematic objects items that were in keeping with their pre-existing office schema, e.g. a typewriter and a desk

• many recorded items that were not in keeping with their office schema unexpected items, e.g. skull because it was distinctive

• Some also recorded items that were not in the room but should have been e.g. books which are schematic object

what were the conclusions? (effect of schema on memory)

schema can affect the things we remember and can distort our memory if what we see is not in keeping with the schema

evaluation the study, i.e. strengths and limitations

The study has high internal validity as it is controlled. It also means it can be standardised and replicated however it lacks ecological validity as it doesn’t reflect real life and can’t apply to everyday settings.