Grant

What’s the background?

Context-dependent memory and the idea that we’re able to recall information best if we return to the same context in which the information was learned in the first place. Godden and Baddeley used a sample of divers and had them learn a list of words in two natural environments - dry land and underwater - and recall the words in either the original learning environment or the alternative. Results showed lists learned in the same environment as when recalled did much better than when alternate. However, Smith suggested that if tested through multiple-choice questions, then any cues from being back in the familiar environment will be ‘outshone’ by the information in the options- Smith’s outshining’ hypothesis.

What was the aim of this study?

To see whether the kind of context-dependency effect, that has often been reported for recall (but not recognition), of unrelated lists of words would also be seen in relation to the type of meaningful prose that is presented in many academic courses.

What was the sample?

• 8 student researches each recruited 5 acquaintances to take part in the study

• Ranged in age from 17-56 years

• It was made up of 17 females and 23 males

• Participants were placed in one of four conditions and they were all tested individually by the student-researcher who had recruited them to take part

• Data was only analysed for 39 of the participants because one had atypically low scores

Summarise the procedure.

Stage 1

Participants read a short (2 sided) article on psychoimmunology and studied the article in conditions of either noise or silence. The noise was made up of background sounds recorded during a lunchtime in a university cafeteria. It was okayed on a cassette played and heard through headphones. The two different conditions in which participants read the article were:

• Noise (via their headphones)

• Silence (wearing headphones)

They then had a 2 minute break.

Stage 2

After their break, participants were given two sets of questions to answer about the content of the article they had been reading. Again, participants took these tests in one of two conditions:

• Noise (the same background sounds, heard via their headphones)

• Silence (wearing headphones)

Whether taking the tests in conditions of noise or silence, participants all took these same tests and they took these in the same order:

1. Recall test (10 shirt answer questions)

2. Recognition test (16 multiple choice questions)

What were the findings/conclusions?

Mean results from the recall test:

• Read in silence-Taken in silence: 6.7

• Read in silence-Taken with noise: 4.6

• Read with noise-Taken in silence: 5.4

• Read with noise-Taken with noise: 6.2

Mean results from the recognition test:

• Read in silence-Taken in silence: 14.3

• Read in silence-Taken with noise: 12.7

• Read with noise-Taken in silence: 12.7

• Read with noise-Taken with noise: 14.3

Participants performed best in the ‘matching’ conditions. This provides support for context-dependent memory, suggesting that we remember more when we are back in the same context as when we first learned something.

Why is this study opportunity sampling and not snowball sampling?

Because one person picked 5 others, so not snowball as those recruits then didn’t pick. Opportunity because they didn’t select to take part and were just acquaintances and available at the time.

Evaluate reliability.

Internal

• Was standardised and had controls such as reading the same article, same reading time, same tests etc.

External

• Only 39 participants and also they were split into even smaller groups for the 4 conditions so not large enough to generalise from.

Evaluate validity.

Construct

• Good control on extraneous variables and accurate measure of the aim.

Ecological

• Would’ve had to read articles/educational texts in educational settings + having to take tests about them as well.

• Used familiar environments like the actual recorded cafeteria sounds or silent conditions like libraries.

• BUT odd to be tested straight after reading and the article being about psychoimmunology, some might have no interest in it whatsoever.

Population

• Included both male and female participants with a large age range.

• BUT no one under 17 and over 56 and we’re all like ley from a similar educational background.

Evaluate ethnocentrism.

Low

• Context-dependent memory is a basic cognitive function and processes like attention and memory are biological so can be said to be universal.

• Also psychoimmunology is a scientific topic not linked to any specific culture.

Evaluate ethics.

Upheld

• Informed consent

• Right to withdraw

• Deception

• Protection from harm

• Confidentiality

Which debates link to this study?

Reductionism-Holism

• Reductionism- solely looking at the environment (noise) to be the only reason why their memory/recall skills will be better.

Usefulness

• Can help students understand how they’ll recall better in exams by studying in an environment similar to that of exams.