Reconstructive Memory

Reconstructive Memory

1. schemas

   • idea/script about the world that we expect
   • Bransford & Johnson found that we use schemas/scripts when processing information

2. War of the Ghosts

   • Bartlett found people changed the story by three things
     • 1. omissions: leaving some parts out
     • 2. transformational: changing details into more familiar and conventional
     • 3. rationalism: growing cohearance amoung parts

3. Strengths

   • chinese whispers backs up the idea that people change the story to both make more sense and different sense
   • can be tested by experimental methods because the independent variable can be opporationalised and measured

4. Weaknesses

   • War of the Ghosts is an unusual story that does not make sense to participants
   • studies might not have validity and not applicable to everyday life - artificial tasks and situation

5. Confabulation

   • making up bits to fill in a memory so that it makes sense

6. Rationalisation

   • making up something for it to make sense