Brewer & Treyens (1981)

Question 1

Where can this study be used? (3)

Answer 1

Theories of one cognitive process
Schema theory
Reconstructive memory

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To investigate the role of schema in the encoding and retrieval of episodic memory

Question 3

Participants

Answer 3

85 university psychology students

Question 4

Method

Answer 4

• P were seated in a room made to resemble an office, which contained objects typical of an office (e.g., typewriter, paper, coffee pot) and some unusual objects (e.g., a skull, a toy top)
  * some expected objects (e.g., books) were omitted
• P were told to wait in the office while the researcher “checked” the experiment (seated in a specific chair to ensure they all had the same view of the office)
• after 35 seconds, participants were taken to another room and asked to recall the objects in the office
• P were divided into three conditions:
  
  • Written recall and verbal recognition: wrote down descriptions of the objects and completed a recognition test by rating objects in a booklet
  • Drawing recall: were given an outline of the room and asked to draw the objects
  • Verbal recognition: Participants were read a list of objects and asked if each item was present in the room or not

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

Participants were more likely to recall objects that were schema-congruent (expected items in an office, such as a desk or paper) during both written and drawing recall
* Schema-incongruent items (e.g., the skull, screwdriver) were less frequently recalled during free recall but were more accurately identified during verbal recognition tasks
* some P “recalled” items that were schema-congruent but not present in the office, such as books or filing cabinets
* In both the drawing and written recall conditions, P sometimes altered objects to fit their schema (e.g., remembering the trapezoidal table as square or the yellow paper on a chair as being on the desk)

Question 6

Limitations (3)

Answer 6

• could not verify specific schemas of P before experiment (though pilot study was conducted)
• deception about true purpose of study (necessary to avoid demand characteristics): raises ethical concerns
• inconsistencies about schema-consistent objects being remembered that were not in room

Question 7

Strengths (2)

Answer 7

• provides strong evidence that schemas influence both encoding and retrieval of episodic memory
• ecological validity due to realistic setting