Reconstructive memory

Read the following; ‘When the man entered the kitchen, he slipped on a wet spot and dropped the delicate glass pitcher on the floor. The pitcher was very expensive and everyone watched the event with horror.’ (Bransford, 1979)

Now write out the paragraph you have read, word for word. How much can you remember?

The big question… Did anybody write about the glass being broken or smashed? This is not in the original paragraph but the sentences imply that it occurred. Past experience has distorted the actual memory

The Constructive approach Bartlett (1932) proposed the constructive approach He stated memory is not an accurate account Existing knowledge (schemas) are used to understand new information Memories are changed to fit in with what we already know We tend to see and in particular interpret and recall what we see according to what we expect and assume is 'normal' in a given situation

Schemas These are mental structures that represent an aspect of the world, such as an object or event. Schemas help us to make sense of the world, by providing short cuts to identifying things that we come across (our building blocks of knowledge).

Schemas For example, It has a large metal door Buttons and knobs Gets hot inside Has hot metal rings on top It’s probably a cooker. You don’t need to have seen this particular cooker before to identify it. Your schema for “cooker” allows you to be able to identify all cookers so long as they don’t veer too far from your mental schema.

The Constructive Approach Example You have been witness to a serious car accident During the police interview you describe the scene of the accident You describe broken glass on the road Is that because broken glass was there or because due to past experience that is what you would expect to see?

Bartlett 1932 Study Aim To investigate whether memories can be altered due to own values/culture Method Participants read a story called ‘The war of the ghosts’. Story based upon Native American culture Participants asked to recall the story repeatedly over days, weeks and months

Bartlett 1932 Study Results Participants distorted the story when asked to recall it Participants found it difficult to recall aspects that were culturally diverse e.g. discussion about the spirits, swapped word canoe for boat Conclusion Memory is distorted to try and fit with a person’s current schemas

Bartlett 1932 Study Evaluation - Was conducted approx 80 years ago, society has changed so much in this time + Procedure is more similar to how people remember than Peterson and Peterson study - However, it can be argued this study still lacks ecological validity as the folk story is unfamiliar to the reader + The findings from the study has been replicated in more recent studies

The Constructive approach Evaluation + Eye witness testimony research supports the theory that memories are not accurate - Does not explain how memories are processed - Bartletts study was conducted in the 1930’s was not conducted under scientific conditions + More recent studies have supported Bartletts original study