Murdock’s Serial Position Curve Study (1962)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To see if memory of words was affected by the number of words a person had to remember

Question 2

Method

Answer 2

• randomly selected common English words
• 103 psychology students in small groups
• participants listened to words list of 20 to 40 different words
• participants had to recall the words

Question 3

Results

Answer 3

The likelihood of recall was related to the position of the word

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

• results demonstrate serial position effect
• recency effect
• supports multi - story model

Question 5

Strength

Answer 5

• a controlled laboratory experiment

Question 6

Weakness

Answer 6

• artificial task

Question 7

A controlled laboratory study

Answer 7

The study was conducted in very controlled conditions which means the results can be trusted and nothing could be affected by the dependent variable

Question 8

Artificial task

Answer 8

In this study memory was investigated by using lists of words that only represent a small part of what we do with our memories, how the brain deals with memorising words

Question 9

Supporting research

Answer 9

Research with amnesiacs supports the conclusions and confirms that the primacy effect is related to long - term memory