psychology
Chapter 9: Manipulation and improvement of memory
Learning activity suggested answers
Learning Activity 9.1 (p. 345)
For each of the following examples, identify one or more measures of retention that could be used: free recall (FR), serial recall (SR), cued recall (CR), recognition (RG) or relearning (RL).
Activities
Measure of retention remembering a friend’s mobile phone number without cues
SER (order is important)
FR (may simply recall all digits in correct order) playing ‘Hangman’
CR (number of letters provides a cue) using photos from a trip to describe your experiences
CR (photos provide cues)
RG (selecting a photo from among alternatives to describe an experience) identifying a friend who appears in a news report
RG
remembering the directions to a friend’s house
SR (order is important) writing out the words of a song from memory
SR (order is important) reading back over your textbook before an exam
RL
writing out the words of a song with the music of the song playing in the background.
CR
Note: Accept alternatives if validly argued.
Learning Activity 9.2 (p. 346)
1 Explain the meaning of the term measure of retention.
Measure of retention is a method of measuring the amount of information retained in memory.
2 Briefly describe the three different measures of retention, with reference to examples not used in the text.
• Recall: reproducing information that has been stored in memory with or without retrieval cues depending on the recall method, e.g. free recall - during period 6, remembering what you ate at lunchtime when asked what you ate.
• Recognition: identifying the correct information from among alternatives, e.g. correctly identifying your lost cap among others in lost property.
• Relearning/method of savings: learning information again that has been previously learned and stored in LTM, e.g. learning lines for a school production role over a period of time builds on previous learning and is usually quicker/more
Learning activity suggested answers
Learning Activity 9.1 (p. 345)
For each of the following examples, identify one or more measures of retention that could be used: free recall (FR), serial recall (SR), cued recall (CR), recognition (RG) or relearning (RL).
Activities
Measure of retention remembering a friend’s mobile phone number without cues
SER (order is important)
FR (may simply recall all digits in correct order) playing ‘Hangman’
CR (number of letters provides a cue) using photos from a trip to describe your experiences
CR (photos provide cues)
RG (selecting a photo from among alternatives to describe an experience) identifying a friend who appears in a news report
RG
remembering the directions to a friend’s house
SR (order is important) writing out the words of a song from memory
SR (order is important) reading back over your textbook before an exam
RL
writing out the words of a song with the music of the song playing in the background.
CR
Note: Accept alternatives if validly argued.
Learning Activity 9.2 (p. 346)
1 Explain the meaning of the term measure of retention.
Measure of retention is a method of measuring the amount of information retained in memory.
2 Briefly describe the three different measures of retention, with reference to examples not used in the text.
• Recall: reproducing information that has been stored in memory with or without retrieval cues depending on the recall method, e.g. free recall - during period 6, remembering what you ate at lunchtime when asked what you ate.
• Recognition: identifying the correct information from among alternatives, e.g. correctly identifying your lost cap among others in lost property.
• Relearning/method of savings: learning information again that has been previously learned and stored in LTM, e.g. learning lines for a school production role over a period of time builds on previous learning and is usually quicker/more