Sparrow, Liu, Wegner Study - HL (cognitive)

Question 1

Sparrow, Liu, Wegner Study - HL (cognitive)

Aim

Answer 1

To examine whether computers are now considered a large transactive memory store (ie. Do we put less effort into remembering things if we think it will be easily available at a later date?

Question 2

Sparrow, Liu, Wegner Study - HL (cognitive)

Procedure

Answer 2

• Participants: Approx 30 undergrad students
• Participants were asked to type 30 trivia facts into a program
• After each statement was entered, they were given a prompt “Your entry has been saved into the folder”
• FACTS”’ (or DATA, INFO, NAMES, ITEMS, POINTS), giving impression that the data could be accessed later even though they would not be able to do so later
• Once complete, participants completed several task:
  
  1. Free recall test: Tried to recall as many statements are possible (10 minutes)
  2. Cued recall task: Given a keyword from the fact, participants were asked what folder the information was saved in

Question 3

Sparrow, Liu, Wegner Study - HL (cognitive)

Findings

Answer 3

• Participants recalled where the facts were stored (the folder name) with approx 50% accuracy while they recalled the facts themselves with only approx 25% accuracy
• Supports that people may consider a computer part of the transactive memory as they were more likely to recall where the fact was stored rather than the fact itself
  
  • Can be both positive/negative

Question 4

Sparrow, Liu, Wegner Study - HL (cognitive)

Limitations

Answer 4

• Question of internal validity - the memory cue that went with the folder may have helped recall
• Not clear if this is specific to computer and technology only - would be interesting to try to replicate with people (would people do the same hink
• Sampling bias - undergrad students were used. Are they more dependent on technology than other groups

Question 5

Sparrow, Liu, Wegner Study - HL (cognitive)

Ethical Considerations

Answer 5

• Protection from harm - Trivia facts should be chosen to include topics that are “non-triggering”

Question 6

Sparrow, Liu, Wegner Study - HL (cognitive)

Research Method

Answer 6

Experiment