Schema theory

Bartlett, 1932

Schema - Mental representations formed through past experiences - Culturally and Socially Specific

Assimilation - Using an existing schema to deal with a new object or event

Accommodation - Changing or developing a new schema when it can't explain a new object or event

SS - Stays Same; CC - Change/Create

Schema Theory 

  • Humans are active processors of information, and we relate incoming information to existing knowledge. 

  • What we already know will influence the outcome of information processing

  • New Information is processed in light of existing schemas - schemas therefore affect our other cognitive processes such as memory

  • Schema processing is automated and doesn't require conscious thought

  • Schemas can lead to biases

Strength

Weakness

Testable - we can test the effects of schemas but not the schemas themselves

Application - Applicable across cultures - No apparent bias in research - but most early research was done in the West

Predictive Validity - Helps to Predict Behaviour

HOWEVER - can't predict EXACTLY what someone will recall

↓ Testability - Vague and Hypothetical - can't objectively measure schemas, only their effects

↓ Predictive Validity - Can't predict EXACTLY what someone will recall

Anderson and Pichert (1978)

  • Aim: Investigate whether schemas influence memory at both encoding and retrieval

  • Investigated effect of schemas on memory at encoding and retrieval

  • 39 University Psychology Students

  • Read same passage containing 72 different pieces of information related to aspects of a house

  • Randomly assigned to be burglar or house-buyer

  • Distraction Task - Completed 12 minute vocab test

  • RECALL 1 - Original Perspective - PPS had to write down as much of the story as they could remember

  • Distraction Task - 5 minute distraction task

  • RECALL 2 - NEW or SAME Perspective - PPS had to recall as much as they could remember again - half of them were changed from burglar to house-owner vv.

Results

  • Recall 1 - PPS remembered more from their perspective

  • Recall 2 - PPS who changed perspectives remembered 7.1% more important info

    • Group that didn't change remembered 2.9% less important info

Conclusion

  • PPS remembered more, previously unrecalled info, following a shift in perspective 

  • Schema processing can impact memory at encoding and retrieval

  • Supports that - Schemas can impact cognitive processing

Strength

Weakness

Lab Experiment

  • Control - ↑ Causality

    • ↑ Internal Validity

Testable

  • Repeatable

  • Can Test Reliability

Construct Validity

  • Testing memory at encoding and retrieval

↓ Ecological Validity

  • Artificial setting, odd task

↓ Population Validity

  • Psychology Students

Possible Demand Characteristics

  • Psychology Students - May possibly know about Schema Theory already

Brewer and Treyens (1981)

  • Aim: Effect of existing schemas on memory

  • Investigate whether memories of object in a room (office) is influenced by existing schema of what to expect in an office

  • 86 University Psychology Students

  • Waited in office for 30 - 60 seconds

  • Had to recall what they saw in the office

Results

  • More likely to remember objects congruent with office schema

  • Less likely to remember objects incongruent with office schema - Skull, screwdriver

  • Reconstruction Errors - People remembered books when there weren't any

Conclusion

  • Schemas influence memory processing - PPS more likely to recall information consistent with office schema

  • Schemas can lead to biases - People recalled books when there weren't books - filled gaps in knowledge using schema

Strength

Weakness

↓ Demand Characteristics

  • Due to Deception

↑ Ecological Validity

  • Natural Office Setting

↓ Population Density

  • Only Uni Students

  • ↓ Generalisability

Ethical Issues - Deception - May make it difficult to replicate