Murdock's Memory Magic: How Word Order Changes What We Remember

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Haley

29/04/2023

Psychology

Psychology AQA GCSE Murdock 9 marker

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Psychology

Murdock's Memory Magic: How Word Order Changes What We Remember

The effects of word position on memory recall were investigated in Murdock's groundbreaking study, demonstrating how serial positioning impacts memory performance. The research revealed distinct patterns in word recall based on list position, contributing significantly to our understanding of memory processes.

Murdock's study involved 103 psychology students recalling words from lists of varying lengths
Results showed superior recall for words at the beginning (primary effect) and end (recency effect) of lists
The study provided evidence for separate short-term and long-term memory systems
Laboratory conditions ensured high experimental control and reliability
Supporting research from amnesic patients validates the findings
Some limitations exist regarding ecological validity and real-world application

29/04/2023

Describe Murdock's serial position curve study.
Evaluate the research method used in this study.
[9 marks]
Murdocks aim was to investigate w

Evaluation of Research Methods and Findings

The strengths and weaknesses of memory research methods become apparent in analyzing Murdock's approach. The laboratory setting provided excellent control over variables, enhancing internal validity.

Highlight: Supporting evidence from studies of amnesic patients (Carlesimo et al) strengthens Murdock's findings, as these patients show recency effects but not primary effects.

Quote: "This confirms that the primary effect is related to long-term memory."

Definition: Ecological validity refers to how well research findings can be applied to real-world situations.

A significant limitation involves the artificial nature of word-list tasks, which may not fully represent real-world memory processes, such as learning practical skills or studying for examinations.

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Subjects

Psychology

Murdock's Memory Magic: How Word Order Changes What We Remember

Haley

@haley809

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Murdock's study involved 103 psychology students recalling words from lists of varying lengths
Results showed superior recall for words at the beginning (primary effect) and end (recency effect) of lists
The study provided evidence for separate short-term and long-term memory systems
Laboratory conditions ensured high experimental control and reliability
Supporting research from amnesic patients validates the findings
Some limitations exist regarding ecological validity and real-world application

...

29/04/2023

175

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Psychology

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Evaluation of Research Methods and Findings

Highlight: Supporting evidence from studies of amnesic patients (Carlesimo et al) strengthens Murdock's findings, as these patients show recency effects but not primary effects.

Quote: "This confirms that the primary effect is related to long-term memory."

Definition: Ecological validity refers to how well research findings can be applied to real-world situations.

A significant limitation involves the artificial nature of word-list tasks, which may not fully represent real-world memory processes, such as learning practical skills or studying for examinations.

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

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Murdock's Experimental Design and Methodology

Murdock conducted a carefully controlled experiment to examine how word position affects memory recall. The study utilized 4,000 common English words, with 103 psychology students participating across multiple sessions. Participants were tasked with recalling words from lists ranging from 10 to 40 words in length.

Definition: The primary effect refers to enhanced recall of items at the beginning of a list, while the recency effect describes better recall of items at the end.

Highlight: Words at the start of lists were transferred to long-term memory, while end-list words remained in short-term memory, leading to better recall in both positions.

Example: If presented with a 20-word list, participants typically remembered the first few words (primary effect) and last few words (recency effect) better than those in the middle.

Vocabulary: Serial position curve refers to the U-shaped pattern of recall probability based on an item's position in a sequence.

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Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average app rating

17 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 17 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user