Images aiding memory
Abstract
The experiment preformed is based on the dual coding approach of Paivio (1969) the aim of the experiment/study was to determine whether participants were more efficient at memory recall when given a group of proper nouns, or when they were given proper nouns with associated images as Paivio believed that these were strongly related. For the experiment a one tailed hypothesis was used, this one tailed hypothesis stated that participants would find it easier to recall proper nouns that were shown with a picture as opposed to being shown proper nouns without the picture.
The I.V used in the experiment was whether the participants in each condition were shown proper nouns accompanied by images or shown only the proper noun, this was monitored in order to study the effect upon the D.V which was participant memory recall.
Using the independent groups method the participants were broken up into two separate conditions; condition one was only shown the proper nouns whereas condition 2 were shown the exact same proper noun accompanied by an image that represented it e.g. if the word was tree then a picture of a tree accompanied the proper noun on the same slide. In order to properly carry out the experiment properly a null hypothesis had to be used; the null hypothesis stated that there would be no difference in memory recall when participants shown proper nouns with or without images any fluctuations are due to chance.
The experimental method used was the laboratory method. This was the most appropriate method to use because it was easy to replicate in both conditions. It also ensured that the environment was under the complete control of the researchers. In order to ensure that there was no chance of the participant recalling the words from a different condition, the independent group’s research design was used.
Within the sample there were a total of 42 students. 16 college students and 14 school students in