Memory research foundations: Ebbinghaus, contiguity, and forgetting curve

Question-and-answer flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes: Ebbinghaus's methods, trials, difficulty, savings, forgetting curve, contiguity, directionality of associations, and emphasis on data.

Who was the first researcher to systematically test memory ideas by self-experimentation using nonsense syllables?

Hermann Ebbinghaus

What type of stimuli did Ebbinghaus use to study memory without semantic meaning?

Nonsense trigrams (three-letter sequences)

In Ebbinghaus's memory experiments, how is 'difficulty' defined?

The number of trials required to recall the list correctly; more trials mean greater difficulty (relative).

What is 'savings' in the context of Ebbinghaus's experiments?

The reduction in trials needed to relearn a list after a delay; indicates retained memory.

What does the forgetting curve describe?

Performance declines as the retention interval increases; the biggest drop happens early.

What does contiguity mean in memory formation?

The extent to which items occur together in time or space; closer items have stronger contiguity.

How does contiguity affect relearning according to the notes?

Items that are more contiguous are relearned faster; contiguity is relative (stronger for original order).

Are associations formed by contiguity typically bidirectional?

No; they are often directional (A→B) and not always easily reversed (B→A).

What procedural step did Ebbinghaus use to judge recall accuracy?

Present a list, then try to write it in exact order from memory and count trials until correct.

What is the effect of repetition on recall performance?

More exposures (repetitions) lead to better recall and higher accuracy.

What has been said about data and replication of Ebbinghaus's findings?

His findings have been replicated hundreds of times; data matters, not anecdotes.

What was observed about list length and learning effort?

Longer lists require more trials to learn; longer lists are more difficult.

When testing recall with the original list versus the reversed list, which is easier?

The original (forward) list is easier to recall than the reversed list.