Impact of Context on Memory Retrieval - Grant et al. (1998)

These flashcards cover key concepts, hypotheses, methods, results, and implications discussed in Grant et al.'s 1998 study on context-dependent memory.

What is the aim of Grant et al.'s 1998 study?

To investigate whether environmental context, specifically the presence or absence of background noise, would affect students' ability to recall information.

What are the two conditions of the independent variable in the study?

Quiet condition (no background noise) and Noisy condition (background noise, such as the sound of an irrelevant conversation).

What did Grant et al. hypothesize regarding students studying in quiet vs. noisy environments?

Students who study in quiet will recall better in quiet than in noisy, and those who study in noisy will recall better in noisy than in quiet.

What method did Grant et al. use to test their hypotheses?

An experimental method conducted in a natural setting, featuring a field experiment.

How many students participated in the study?

39 students (17 males and 23 females) from a university.

What were the results of the short-answer test component?

Participants who studied and tested in the same context (quiet-quiet or noisy-noisy) performed significantly better than those with mismatched contexts.

What conclusion did Grant et al. come to regarding context-dependent memory?

Memory retrieval is more accurate when the learning and testing conditions are consistent.

What are some practical applications of Grant et al.'s findings?

Educational settings where students perform better in environments similar to test settings, and real-world settings such as workplaces.

What strength of the study is indicated by its ecological validity?

The study's natural setting enhances its ecological validity, making findings applicable to real-life situations.

What is a noted weakness regarding the sample used in Grant et al.'s study?

The sample consisted of university students, which may not represent the general population and could affect generalizability.

What were the types of questions used in the recall test?

A short-answer section (10 questions) and a multiple-choice section (16 questions).

What ethical consideration was raised about the study’s conditions?

Participants were subjected to noise during study or test phases, which could have caused mild discomfort or distraction.

What is one limitation regarding the context scope in the study?

The study only focused on noise as a contextual factor, ignoring other environmental factors like lighting or temperature.