Class Experiment Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology

Memory Demonstration Instructions: –I’m going to read a list of words. –After I’m done, please count backwards by threes from the number that I give you. –Then I’ll tell you to write down as many of the words as you can. Read list 683

Recall Please recall as many of the items now (write them down). Check : Book Tree Car Radio Desk Table Magazine Stereo Truck Flower Newspaper Shrub Minivan Video Dresser

Class experiment Today going to go over the design for the class experiment. I have put the materials together and posted them on the web site –Syllabus, class experiment, download from the green boxSyllabus, Your homework is to –download these –find some volunteers –collect some data. –Bring the data back to class on Monday I will compile and analyze the results Based on this experiment and these results you will produce an APA style research report

Class experiment In the packet you’ll find: –Instructions To create the stimuli To read to your participants For compiling the data (data sheet provided) –Four consent forms –Debriefing sheet

Class experiment Participants will be presented a list of words Later they will be asked to recall as many as they can BOOK CAR DESK DRESSER FLOWER MAGAZINE MINIVAN

Class experiment BOOK CAR DESK DRESSER FLOWER MAGAZINE MINIVAN Some will be read the words, others will read the words themselves

Class experiment BOOK CAR DESK DRESSER FLOWER MAGAZINE MINIVAN Two different orders will be used: alphabetical & categorical BOOK MAGAZINE DESK DRESSER MINIVAN CAR FLOWER

Class experiment Following presentation ask your participant to recall as many of the words as they can (have them write them down) Count up the number of correctly recalled words and enter this information into the data summary sheet

The issues What are the issues that we’re looking at? What are your predictions? For your paper –there are three required readings (see web page). web page You must include these in your introduction –Find at least 1 additional article to include in your introduction

The design accurate recall of words from list What is our dependent variable: –Construct: –Operational DV: memory

What is/are our independent variables: –Conceptual IVs: –Operational IVs: The design Factor AFactor B organizationMode of Presentation Alphabetical Categorical Read to Read by

The design Procedure - how should we carry out our experiment? What do we need to control? –Amount of time for recall –Number of items on the list –Actual items on the list Any other things we need to think about? –Ethics Consent form, debriefing I have create these and they are part of the experiment packet that you download