Classic Study: Baddeley (1966) Flashcards
(17 cards)
What was the aim of Baddeley’s study?
- To investigate whether LTM encodes acoustically or semantically
- To investigate if acoustically similar words would lead to more impairment in the LTM than semantically similar
Who were used in the sample?
- 72 males and females
- From ‘Applied Psychology Research Unit’ in Cambridge
What type of method was used?
Lab
What did ‘Condition A’ entail?
Ppts learned a list of 10 acoustically similar words
e.g. man, can
What did ‘Condition B’ entail?
Ppts learned a list of 10 acoustically dissimilar words
e.g. pit, few
What did ‘Condition C’ entail?
Ppts learned a list 10 semantically similar words
e.g. large, big
What did ‘Condition D’ entail?
Ppts learned a list of 10 semantically dissimilar words
e.g. good, hot
Briefly describe the procedure of this classic study.
- Experiment 3
- Condition A involved 10 acoustically similar words (e.g. man, can)
- Condition B involved 10 acoustically dissimilar words (e.g. pit, few)
- Condition C involved 10 semantically similar words (e.g. large, big)
- Condition B involved 10 semantically dissimilar words (e.g. good, hot)
- Each list of 10 words were presented on a projector in a set order, one word every 3 seconds
- Afterwards the 72 ppts from the ‘Applied Psychology Research Unit’ at Cambridge were asked to complete 6 tasks involving memory for digits to prevent rehearsal
- They were then given 1 min to recall the words in order
- This was repeated over 4 trials
- After the 4 trials the groups were given a 15 minute interference task involving copying 8 digit sequences
- Ppts were then given a surprise retest on the word sequence of their condition
What was the IV and DV?
IV = Acoustically/semantically similar/dissimilar word lists DV = Number of words recalled in the correct order
Why did it get repeated over 4 trials?
To make sure the learned words were in the ppts’ LTM by trials 3 and 4.
What were the results of Baddeley’s study?
- Around 40% of people recalled acoustically similar words correctly in trial 2 compared to 60% for acoustically dissimilar words
- Around 50% of semantically similar words were recalled in trial 4 compared to 85% of semantically dissimilar which was a significant difference
- None of the conditions showed any significant further forgetting between trial 4 and the retest
Describe the conclusion of this experiment.
- Ppts found it harder to recall acoustic similarity
- This shows that STM is largely acoustic as similar words were harder to encode to LTM
- Ppts found it harder to recall semantically similar words
- This shows that encoding in LTM is largely semantic
- Therefore this study demonstrates how STM and LTM are affected differently by different types of encoding
Evaluate the generalisablity using a high and low point.
A weakness of the study is that there is low generalisability. This is because baddeley used a sample of 72 males and females from Britain. Therefore, the study is ethnocentric as not representative of difference in word structure in other countries such as Spain which have different word lengths.
Evaluate the reliability using 2 high points.
A strength of the study is that there is high reliability. It follows a standardised procedure (e.g. one word every 3 seconds with controls of the same order of word for ppts in the same condition), and ppts all completed the same 8 digit interference task. Therefore is is easy to replicate and test for consistency. Additionally, there is High levels of validity as it Uses quantitative data of how many words remembered in the correct order in the different word lists of acoustic and semantic in one minute. This means that the numerical data can be statistically analysed and so increases validity as the data is objective and scientific. Accurate conclusions of LTM encoding semantically can be drawn.
Are there any applications?
A strength of baddeleys study is the applications. The findings can be used to inform students on revision techniques as the study suggests that LTM encodes semantically. Therefore the advice to students is to use methods such as mindmaps and revision cards that create semantic links instead of re-reading notes as the information will more likely encode in LTM if semantic, increasing performance in exams.
Evaluate the validity using a high and low point.
A weakness of the study is the low task validity. Baddeley used a list of 10 words which are either acoustic/semantic similar/dissimilar that they had to recall within 1 minute. This isn’t a daily task which tests our everyday memory so it may not be an accurate reflection of how our memory works outside of basic recall tests. There it lacks mundane realism.
Evaluate an ethical issue.
Unethical. Ppts were unaware of the surprise trial at the end. Informed consent of this was not given and so may cause psychological distress
