Reconstructive Memory and Schema

Question 1

Why is Bartlett’s research significant?

Answer 1

Because it shows how ‘scientific research proceeds’
-Had a highly unscientific method for research until it was improved upon by Loftus

Question 2

How is the Reconstructive Memory & Schema Model different from other models of memory?

Answer 2

It rejects many of the baseline understandings of memory- that it isn’t an objective process, but rather, integrates elements of existing knowledge & experience to RECONSTRUCT memories
-Memory is not passive, but ACTVIE

Question 3

Schema

Answer 3

The pattens of thought (Cognitive Frameworks) that recognise categories of information and the relationships between them
-Constantly change with new experiences, assimilating new information

Question 4

Rorschach (Ink blots) tests

Answer 4

-When shown to pps, they oft. ‘rummaged about’ through their own experiences until they decided on a correct interpretation (Often animals/plants)
-Determined by individuals’ prior knowledge & experiences (not all participants would answer the same
-Labelled the object even when not asked to according to their interpretations

Question 5

Confabulation

Answer 5

Where people ‘fill in the gaps’ (fabricating/distorting/misinterpreting) in recall with information that is consistent with their schema

Question 6

Rationalising

Answer 6

When people change the details in their recall of events to make sense to them and fit into their existing schema

Question 7

Shortening

Answer 7

Where people omit details that they cannot make sense of (using their existing schema) so that a memory is then easier to process; often, then CONFABULATE whatever is missing

Question 8

The difference between assimilation and accomodation?

Answer 8

When ASSMILATING, we change our schemas to suit new information
When ACCOMODATING, we change our interpretation of memories in order to maintain our existing schema- by levelling/sharpening
Levelling- removing or downplaying details from the memory
Sharpening- adding or exaggerating details.

Question 9

War of the Ghosts story; procedure

Answer 9

-20 British participants were read the Native American folk tale ‘War of the Ghosts’ (BECAUSE they were unfamiliar with it)
-Pps were asked to reproduce the story at inconsistent times after reading it- from 2 days after, to 6.5 years later)
-Time of recall decreased with time with the pps’ understanding of the story; getting shorter + more coherent (with omitted parts)
-Unfamiliar concepts/language was changed to fit existing Western schema

Question 10

Serial reproduction

Answer 10

When a set of information is learnt/read before the individual then goes on to explain to another person what they interpreted, who will then go on to do the same continuously
-Akin to Chinese Whispers (Where Bartlett got the idea from)

Question 11

How can Reconstructive Memory + Schema Theory help prove individual differences in psychology? (Holistic, Strength)

Answer 11

Considers the impact & role of prior experiences and interpretations of events/knowledge/stereotypes- which no one person is going to have the same as another
-Beneficial, as no other theory considers them

Question 12

Carmichael et al. (Strength)

Answer 12

-Pps were shown simple images of figures/shapes, provided with different words to label the images
-When redrawing, pps would alter the figures to better suit the labels they’d given them (reconstructing)
-CREDIBILITY

Question 12

Bartlett, War of Ghosts (1932, Strength)

Answer 12

-Pps changed their interpretations of the ‘War of the Ghosts’ study; replacing unfamiliar concepts with familiar ones (Rationalising the events of the story), and shortening their recall as time passed
-Memory recall is not an objective, exact replica, but changed to fit a person’s individual experiences & interpretations

Question 13

Allport & Postman (1947, Strength)

Answer 13

-Pps were shown images of an argument of on a subway train
-Asked to describe it to other participants through SERIAL REPRODUCTION
-The black character was better dressed & more respectable than the white character, but white participants (in racist America) tended to reverse their appearances
-Some pps added the fact that the black character was holding a knife when he was not
-Racism in the time & place was highly common, so white participants likely used their existing schema of black men

Question 13

Loftus & Palmer (1974, Strength- changing verb study)

Answer 13

-Changing the verb in a critical question about the speed of a simulated car crash (‘bumped’, ‘crashed’, ‘hit’, ‘touched’) led to different interpretations from pps about the speed they remembered the car to be travelling at
-When asked if there was shattered glass at the scene (there wasn’t any), those who were asked wit more aggressive verbs said they’d remembered that there was
-Standardised, Reliable tests + Results

Question 14

Application to society (Strength)

Answer 14

Explains why EWT is highly unreliable: has been used in the Devlin Report (states that EWT alone should not be used to convict a person in court in England & Wales)

Question 15

Unreliable Research (Bartlett, Weakness)

Answer 15

Bartlett’s ‘War of the Ghosts’ study lacked control- when the story was read, when the story was recalled: few hours/days/weeks/months/years for pps
-Hardly any procedure/not standardised so cannot be accurately replicated to check for the consistency of results

Question 16

Reductionist (Weakness)

Answer 16

Doesn’t account for different memory stores/transfer of information between the STM & LTM- INCOMPLETE EXPLANATION OF MEMORY, Lacking in CREDIBILITY

Question 17

Axelrod (1973, Weakness)

Answer 17

When groups of people tend o be asked to recall events. they are likely to have highly similar elements of recall than as individuals
-Changes in individuals cannot account for the experience of a group; Bartlett’s theory doesn’t account for this, so is incomplete

Question 18

Wynn & Logie (1998, Weakness)

Answer 18

In natural situation memories are not added to over time; rationalisation MAY only occur in artificial conditions- laboratory experiments will all lack ecological validity so may not always be generalised to general memory

Question 19

Steyvers & Hemmer (2012, Weakness)

Answer 19

The experimental conditions of reconstructive memory were deliberately altered to cause errors in memory
-In real contexts, schematic recall can be highly accurate without manipulated material: should be sceptical of saying EWT lacks reliability