Grant

Question 1

What was the aim?

Answer 1

• To show that environmental context can have a more positive effect on performance in a meaningful memory test, when the text takes place in the same environment in which the to-be-remembered material was originally studied (matching) than when the test occurs in a different environment (mismatching)

Question 2

What was the sample?

Answer 2

• 39 participants, (1 was omitted), 17-56 years old, USA, 17 female, 23 male
• 8 experimenters (members of a psychology lab class), each recruit 5 participants - snowball sampling

Question 3

What were the IVs?

Answer 3

• Participants read 2 page article (silent/noisy)
• Participants tested (under matching/mismatching conditions)

Question 4

What was the DV?

Answer 4

• Participants performance on a short-answer recall test and a multiple choice test

Question 5

What were the research methods?

Answer 5

• Lab/field experiment (flab)
• Independent measures design

Question 6

What were some results?

Answer 6

• All participants spent roughly the same time reading material
• No overall effect of noise on performance

Question 7

What happened during the procedure?

Answer 7

• Experimenters randomly assigned participants to 5 conditions
• Provide cassette player/ headphones. Exact copies of background noise in canteen. Distinct words/phrases can be heard. Moderately loud level.
• 2 page, 3 column article on psychoimmunology (to-be-studied material)
• 16 multiple choice questions for points, 10 short answer questions - short answer first to ensure recall from article
• Reading times recorded, 2 minute break between study and test. Participants debriefed after, took 30 minutes overall.
• Described as class project, participants voluntary, read aloud, read article 1 time, all participants wear headphones (noisy/silent)