Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /Y1: Psychology: Cognitive Classic Study: Baddeley (1966)
Y1: Psychology: Cognitive Classic Study: Baddeley (1966)
This flashcard deck covers the key aspects of Baddeley's 1966 study on long-term memory encoding, including its aims, methodology, results, and evaluations.
What was the aim of Baddeley’s study?
• To investigate whether LTM encodes acoustically or semantically • To investigate if acoustically similar words would lead to more impairment in the LTM than semantically similar
Tap or swipe ↕ to flip
Swipe ←→Navigate
1/17
Key Terms
Term
Definition
What was the aim of Baddeley’s study?
• To investigate whether LTM encodes acoustically or semantically • To investigate if acoustically similar words would lead to more impairment in the ...
Who were used in the sample?
• 72 males and females • From ‘Applied Psychology Research Unit’ in Cambridge
What type of method was used?
Lab
What did ‘Condition A’ entail?
Ppts learned a list of 10 acoustically similar words e.g. man, can
What did ‘Condition B’ entail?
Ppts learned a list of 10 acoustically dissimilar words e.g. pit, few
What did ‘Condition C’ entail?
Ppts learned a list 10 semantically similar words e.g. large, big
Related Flashcard Decks
Study Tips
- Press F to enter focus mode for distraction-free studying
- Review cards regularly to improve retention
- Try to recall the answer before flipping the card
- Share this deck with friends to study together
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
What was the aim of Baddeley’s study? | • To investigate whether LTM encodes acoustically or semantically • To investigate if acoustically similar words would lead to more impairment in the LTM than semantically similar |
Who were used in the sample? | • 72 males and females • From ‘Applied Psychology Research Unit’ in Cambridge |
What type of method was used? | Lab |
What did ‘Condition A’ entail? | Ppts learned a list of 10 acoustically similar words e.g. man, can |
What did ‘Condition B’ entail? | Ppts learned a list of 10 acoustically dissimilar words e.g. pit, few |
What did ‘Condition C’ entail? | Ppts learned a list 10 semantically similar words e.g. large, big |
What did ‘Condition D’ entail? | Ppts learned a list of 10 semantically dissimilar words e.g. good, hot |
Briefly describe the procedure of this classic study. | • Experiment 3 • Condition A involved 10 acoustically similar words (e.g. man, can) • Condition B involved 10 acoustically dissimilar words (e.g. pit, few) • Condition C involved 10 semantically similar words (e.g. large, big) • Condition B involved 10 semantically dissimilar words (e.g. good, hot) • Each list of 10 words were presented on a projector in a set order, one word every 3 seconds • Afterwards the 72 ppts from the ‘Applied Psychology Research Unit’ at Cambridge were asked to complete 6 tasks involving memory for digits to prevent rehearsal • They were then given 1 min to recall the words in order • This was repeated over 4 trials • After the 4 trials the groups were given a 15 minute interference task involving copying 8 digit sequences • Ppts were then given a surprise retest on the word sequence of their condition |
What was the IV and DV? | IV = Acoustically/semantically similar/dissimilar word lists; DV = Number of words recalled in the correct order |
Why did it get repeated over 4 trials? | To make sure the learned words were in the ppts’ LTM by trials 3 and 4. |
What were the results of Baddeley’s study? | • Around 40% of people recalled acoustically similar words correctly in trial 2 compared to 60% for acoustically dissimilar words • Around 50% of semantically similar words were recalled in trial 4 compared to 85% of semantically dissimilar which was a significant difference • None of the conditions showed any significant further forgetting between trial 4 and the retest |
Describe the conclusion of this experiment. | • Ppts found it harder to recall acoustic similarity • This shows that STM is largely acoustic as similar words were harder to encode to LTM • Ppts found it harder to recall semantically similar words • This shows that encoding in LTM is largely semantic • Therefore this study demonstrates how STM and LTM are affected differently by different types of encoding |
Evaluate the generalisablity using a high and low point. | P - High E - We assume that memory is universal E - Therefore the results and conclusions should be true for all individuals P - Low E - Used a sample of 72 student volunteers from Britain E - Therefore ethnocentric as not representative of difference in word structure in other countries and not representative to people with brain damage may have affected memory |
Evaluate the reliability using 2 high points. | P - High E - Follows a standardised procedure (e.g. one word every 3 seconds with controls of the same order of word for ppts in the same condition) E - Easy to replicate and test for consistency P - High E - Uses quantitative data of how many words remembered in the different word lists of acoustic and semantic E - This means that the data is easier to compare, is objective and scientific |
Are there any applications? | P - Yes E - Can be used to inform students on revision techniques as the study suggests that LTM encodes semantically E - Therefore the advice to students is to use methods such as mindmaps and revision cards that create semantic links instead of re-reading notes as the information will more likely encode in LTM if semantic |
Evaluate the validity using a high and low point. | P - High internal E - Controlled order of words on the list and how long they appeared for with the same word lists for each person in that condition E - Therefore cause and effect can be established between word list similarity being the only factor responsible for memory impairment P - Low task E - Used a list of 10 words for each condition that they had to recall a total of 5 times E - This doesn’t reflect memory in real life as we don’t often recite word lists and instead remember things like putting the bins out |
Evaluate an ethical issue. | P - Unethical E - Ppts were unaware of the surprise trial at the end E - Informed consent of this was not given and so may cause psychological distress |