Experiments

Experiments

1. Sensory Memory- AO1: Sperling (1960)

   • AIM: Investigate duration and capacity of the SR for visual information
   • PROCEDURE: A grid of 12 symbols are shown that were displayed 1/12th of a second. A tone was played if it was a high tone they have to recall the top line, a medium tone the middle line, low tone required recalling the bottom line.
   • Findings On Capacity: Average of 3 out of 4 symbols on the line. Suggesting that iconic store can retain of all information
   • Finding on Duration: If there was delay between seeing the grid, recalling the information was forgotten. After 0.3s delay, 50% of information was recalled. After one second it reduced recall accuracy 33%.

2. Encoding (STM): Acoustic AO1: Acoustic

   • AIM: Investigate how we encode information in our STM
   • PROCEDURAL: Participants were shown a random sequence of six constants. 2 conditions: - Similar sounding (B,T,D,C,V,P) Different sounding: (Y,R,F,S,X,W)
     • Participants then had to write the sequence in the correct order
   • FINDINGS: Similar sounds letters were mixed up (B/T) Different sounding letters were not (Y/R)
   • CONCLUSION: Suggests STM mainly encodes things acoustically

3. Capacity (STM): AO1: Miller

   • AIM: Investigate the capacity of the STM
   • PROCEDURE : By using the 'digit span technique'. Participants were given a string of unrelated digits that increases by one
     • The digit span was measured until they could no longer recall
   • FINDINGS: Digit span 7 + or -2
   • STM is very and can hold 5-9 units

4. Duration in STM (18-30S): AO1: PETERSON AND PETERSON

   • PROCEDURAL: Participants were presented with a constant trigram (HDF). They were asked to count backwards In 3s form a given digit to prevent rehearsal. On each trial participants were stopped after the interval ranging between 3 and 18s and asked to recall the trigram
   • FINDINGS: after 3s only 80% recalled rightly. After 18s fewer than 10% recalled correctly.
   • STM doesn't last long, especially if distracted for 18s or more.

5. Capacity (LTM): Unlimited AO1: STANDING

   • AIM: Investigate the capacity of the LTM
   • Procedural: Over a period a week, showed participates 10,000 photographs for a few seconds
   • FINDINGS:: A few days later then there was 90% recognition for the pictures
   • COCLUSION: Suggests that the capacity of LTM is unlimited as otherwise they wouldn't have been able to store the info

6. ENCODING (LTM): SEMANTIC AO1: BADDLEY

   • AIM: Investigate how the LTM encodes information
   • PROCEDURAL: Constructed list of 4 categories: (1) Sound similar (2) Do not sound similar (3) Semantically similar the same (4) Semantically dissimilar
   • Findings: More mistakes made on a semantically similar list than those on the semantically dissimilar list.
   • CONCLUSION: Encoding in LTM must be semantically (by meaning)

7. Durations (LTM): Lifetime AO1: BAHRICK

   • AIM: Investigate the duration of the LTM
   • Procedural: Bahrick tested 392 American high school graduates on their of their former classmates. In condition one they had to match names to photos and in condition two: (Recalling names with no photo cue.
   • FINDINGS: In condition one, 60% of participants recalled accurately after 47 years
     • In condition two less than 20% of participants recalled accurately after 47%
   • Conclusion: This shows certain types of information can potentially last a life-time, with the correct cues