IB Psychology: Technology, Internet Use, and Memory Research

What is the 'Google effect'?

The belief that people use the Internet as a personal memory bank, which may affect how we remember information.

Who proposed the concept of transactive memory systems?

Wegner et al. (1985)

What is an example of transactive memory in relationships?

A person may not remember certain information because they rely on someone else to remember it.

What are the potential drawbacks of relying on transactive memory?

It could lead to reduced effort in studying and remembering information, especially if always studying with the same friends.

What did Sparrow et al. (2011) investigate in their study?

The effects of believing information would be stored on participants' effort to remember trivia facts.

What was the design of Sparrow et al.'s experiment?

A 2 x 2 independent samples design with two independent variables manipulated at two levels.

What were the two conditions in Sparrow et al.'s study?

Participants were either told the computer would store their typed information or that it would be erased.

What was a significant finding from Sparrow et al.'s research?

Participants who believed the information would be stored made less effort to remember it.

What is a limitation of Sparrow et al.'s study regarding ecological validity?

The study relied on trivial facts, raising questions about whether similar results would occur with meaningful information.

What factors could affect the results of memory studies?

Participant variability, confounding variables, and demand characteristics.

What is the implication of technology on memory capacity?

Technology can both impair and improve memory, depending on how it is used.

What question did Nicholas Carr raise in his 2008 article?

Is Google making us stupid?

How might a cyberterrorism attack on the Internet affect our knowledge?

It could challenge our reliance on the Internet for memory and knowledge, potentially 'destroying' access to information.

What is the role of bias in research on technology and memory?

Bias may influence how studies are conducted and interpreted, affecting conclusions about technology's impact on memory.

What is a reflection question regarding reliance on others for memory?

What are some examples of things that you rely on others to remember?

What might be a consequence of always studying with the same friends?

It could lead to over-reliance on transactive memory, reducing individual effort in learning.

What is the main focus of the HL extension related to technology?

The role of technology in cognitive processes.

What is a potential benefit of transactive memory?

It helps manage information and reduces the cognitive load on individuals.

What is the significance of the research on environmental factors affecting memory?

It highlights how external factors, like technology, can influence cognitive processes.

What should researchers control for in future studies on memory?

They should control for participant variability, confounding variables, and demand characteristics.

What age group spends more than 27 hours a week online according to the UK's Office of Communications?

Young people between 16 and 24.

What did the study by Mueller and Oppenheimer (2014) suggest about laptop note-taking?

It may hinder learning compared to handwritten notes.

What is a key reason why handwritten notes may enhance learning?

It requires processing information and putting it into one's own words.

How many undergraduate students participated in the Mueller and Oppenheimer study?

109 UCLA undergraduate students.

What were the themes of the lectures used in the Mueller and Oppenheimer study?

Bats, bread, vaccines, and respiration.

What were the two conditions participants were divided into in the Mueller and Oppenheimer study?

Handwriting and laptop note-taking.

What effect did multitasking peers have on participants' test scores in the Sana et al. (2012) study?

Participants in view of multitasking peers scored 17% lower.

What was the main focus of the lecture in the Sana et al. (2012) study?

Meteorology.

What is 'Digital Amnesia'?

Forgetting information that one trusts a digital device to remember.

How does technology potentially affect attention span?

It can lead to a decreased ability to focus.

What is the consequence of overreliance on external storage devices?

Weaker internal memory skills.

What type of processing is often associated with digital platforms?

Shallow processing.

What did the 2017 study published in Nature Communications investigate?

The impact of GPS on brain activity, specifically in the hippocampus.

What was observed in participants who followed GPS directions in the 2017 study?

They showed less activity in the hippocampus compared to those who navigated without GPS.

What is one potential negative effect of using GPS on memory skills?

It may negatively affect spatial memory skills.

What was the demographic breakdown of participants in the Sana et al. (2012) study?

38 undergraduate students (26 females; M age 20.3 years).

What did participants in the multitasking condition of the Sana et al. study do?

They were seated in view of confederates using laptops to browse the Internet.

What did the confederates in the Sana et al. study pretend to do during the lecture?

Take notes on their laptops.

What type of questions were categorized in the Mueller and Oppenheimer study?

Factual and conceptual questions.

What was the main finding regarding the study condition in the Mueller and Oppenheimer study?

Participants who studied their notes performed better than those who did not.

What is one reason why technology might not be the sole factor affecting learning?

Distractions from peers using technology can also impact learning.

What was the method used to collect data in the Sana et al. study?

Participants completed a comprehension test after the lecture.

What did the researchers monitor in participants during the GPS navigation study?

Brain activity in the hippocampus.

What is a potential benefit of reduced cognitive load from digital devices?

It can make cognitive processing more efficient.

What did the questionnaire in the Sana et al. study collect?

Demographic data and familiarity with the lecture content.

What is one conclusion that can be drawn from the means and standard deviations in the studies?

They provide insights into the effectiveness of note-taking methods.

What was the purpose of the confederates in the Sana et al. study?

To simulate distractions for the participants.