Landry & Bartling (2011)

Question 1

Where can this study be used? (2)

Answer 1

Working Memory Model
Demonstrate how research methods may be used to study cognitive processes

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To investigate whether articulatory suppression influences the recall of a written list of phonologically dissimilar letters in serial order

Question 3

Participants

Answer 3

34 undergraduate psychology students
* independent samples design

Question 4

Method

Answer 4

• Control group: viewed list of letters for 5 seconds, waited 5 seconds, then wrote them in correct order
• Experimental group: viewed same letter list but had to repeatedly say “1,2” during task (articulary suppression)
• 10 lists of 7 phonologically dissimilar letters (F,K,L,M,R,X,Q)
• accuracy of recall measured; correct letters in right position counted

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

• Control group: mean recall accuracy=76% (SD = 0.13)
• Experimental group: mean recall accuracy = 45% (SD = 0.14)
• significant statistical difference
• articulary suppression interfered with phono loop, making recall more difficult - support WMM

Question 6

Strengths (3)

Answer 6

• high internal validity: well-controlled experiment allows for clear cause and effect
• replicable study with consistent findings (high reliability)
• demonstartes role of phono loop

Question 7

Limitations (2)

Answer 7

• task is artificial: not reflect real-world memory use
• sample consisted only of psychology undergraduates: lack of generalisability