Grant

Question 1

Define context-dependent memory.

Answer 1

The idea that we are able to recall information best if we return to the same context in which the information was first learned.

Question 2

Define recall.

Answer 2

Retrieving information from memory without external cues.

Question 3

Define recognition.

Answer 3

Identifying information as familiar from a set of options.

Question 4

What is the background to Grant’s study?

Answer 4

• Godden and Baddeley gave divers lists of words to learn in one of two natural environments (on land or underwater) and recalled words in either the original learning environment or the alternative environment. Results showed that lists were learned significantly more in the matching conditions.
• Smith suggested that although recall can be enhanced by being in the same context in which something was learned, the way this is tested is important. In recognition tasks, any cues from being back in the original learning environment will be ‘outshone’ by the options given to choose from. This is know as Smith’s outshining hypothesis.

Question 5

What was the aim of Grant’s study?

Answer 5

To investigate context-dependent memory effects on both recall and recognition for meaningful information.

Question 6

What was the independent variable in Grant’s study?

Answer 6

The combination of conditions:
- Silent study - silent test
- Silent study - noisy test
- Noisy study - silent test
- Noisy study - noisy test

Question 7

What was the dependent variable in Grant’s study?

Answer 7

The participant’s score for the 10 recall questions and the 16 recognition questions.

Question 8

What was the sample in Grant’s study? Check

Answer 8

• 8 student researchers each recruited 5 acquaintances to take part in the study (40 participants)
• 17 females, 23 males
• 17 - 56 years old
• All students Check
• Data was only analysed for 39 out of the 40 participants as one had atypically low scores

Question 9

What was the sampling method in Grant’s study?

Answer 9

• Opportunity sampling
• Each of the 8 student researchers chose 5 acquaintances to take part in the study.

Question 10

What was the research method used in Grant’s study?

Question 11

What was the experimental design used in Grant’s study?

Answer 11

• Independent measures design
• Each participant only took part in one of the four conditions.

Question 12

What were some of the controls used in Grant’s study?

Answer 12

• All read the same 2 page article.
• All wore headphones (regardless of the condition they were in) in both the study and test phases.
• Same recall and recognition tests for all participants.
• Always completed the recall test before the recognition test.

Question 13

What was the procedure in Grant’s study?

Answer 13

• Participants individually read a two-sided article on psychoimmunology in either noisy (background noise recorded from the university cafeteria) or silent conditions.
• After finishing reading, participants had a two minute break.
• After their break, participants were given two sets of questions to answer about the content of the article.
• Participants took these tests in either the noisy or silent condition.
• First was the recall test, a set of 10 short-answer questions.
• Second was the recognition test, a set of 16 multiple choice questions.

Question 14

What were the findings from Grant’s study?

Answer 14

• In the recall test, the highest mean number of correct answers was 6.7 and was for the silent study - silent test condition. The second highest mean number of correct answers was for the other matching condition, noisy study - noisy test, with 6.2.
• In the recognition test, the mean number of correct answers for the two matching conditions (silent study - silent test and noisy study - noisy test) was 14.3 whereas the mean number of correct answers for the two mismatching conditions (silent study - noisy test and noisy study - silent test) was 12.7.

Question 15

What were the conclusions made from Grant’s study?

Answer 15

Participants performed best in matching conditions (silent study - silent test or noisy study - noisy test). This provided support for context-dependent memory, suggesting that we remember more when we are in the same context as when we first learnt something.

Question 16

What are the similarities between Grant and Loftus and Palmer?

Answer 16

• Both were highly controlled laboratory experiments.
• Both collected quantitative data.
• Both used an independent measures design.
• Both were reductionist as they only focused on a single factor that influenced memory.

Question 17

What are the differences between Grant and Loftus and Palmer?

Answer 17

• Loftus and Palmer investigated reconstructive memory whereas Grant investigated context-dependent memory.
• Loftus and Palmer’s study could be considered higher in external reliability as it used a much large sample (150 participants in experiment 2).

Question 18

How does Grant’s study lack ecological validity?

Answer 18

Most material for exams is leaned more that a few minutes before the test and so this study may not truly represent assessment under typical conditions.

Question 19

How does Grant’s study have ecological validity?

Answer 19

Students are often asked to read an article and then answer questions on it when learning class material.

Question 20

How does Grant’s study lack population validity?

Question 21

How does Grant’s study have population validity?

Question 22

How does Grant’s study lack construct validity?

Answer 22

An independent measures design was used which introduces participant variables where individual differences between the participants such as their general ability to focus or their preferred learning conditions (silent or noisy) could have affected their performance in the task.

Question 23

How does Grant’s study have construct validity?

Answer 23

Controls were out in place such as all participants wore headphones regardless of the condition they were in and all participants completed the recall test before the recognition test.