Why Our Brains Remember Better in Certain Places: The Godden and Baddeley Memory Experiment

Mathilde Taylor

19/10/2025

Psychology

Grant case study

Subjects

Psychology

Learning and Memory

Memory Processes and Encoding

Types of Memory (E.G. Sensory, Short-Term Long-Term)

120

•

19 Oct 2025

•

3 pages

Why Our Brains Remember Better in Certain Places: The Godden and Baddeley Memory Experiment

Name: Knowunity
Brand: Knowunity

Mathilde Taylor

@mathildetaylor_sbis

Overall Summary

Context-dependent memoryin psychological experiments reveals how environmental... Show more

1 / 3

Background
environmental context-dependency effect
4) improved recall of specific episodes or
information when contextual cues relating to
t

Page 2: Results and Conclusions

This page presents the results and conclusions of the experiment on context-dependent memory in two natural environments: silent and noisy conditions.

Key findings include:

Participants in all conditions spent an equal amount of time reading the article.
Performance was better on multiple-choice questions than short-answer questions.
Higher test scores were achieved in matching conditions compared to mismatching conditions.
A significant environmental context effect was observed for both types of tests.
Background noise did not have a negative effect on studying.

Quote: "Participants got higher test scores on the matching conditions than on the mismatching conditions."

The mean percentage correct on both tests for each condition:

Silent-silent: 81%
Noisy-Noisy: 79%
Silent-Noisy: 67%
Noisy-Silent: 70%

Highlight: The results suggest that context-dependent memory effects occur for meaningful material, and both recognition and recall are affected by environmental context.

Vocabulary: State-dependent memory is a related concept where the internal state $e.g., mood, drug-induced state$ during encoding affects recall when in the same state.

The experiment concludes that environmental context dependency effects are significant for meaningful material, and background noise does not have a detrimental effect on studying.

Page 3: Summary and Additional Details

This page provides a comprehensive summary of the laboratory experiment on context-dependent memory retrieval, reinforcing key aspects of the study design, procedure, and results.

The experiment's background focuses on environmental context dependency, where a place acts as a cue to recall information and memories. The design employs four conditions to test the effects of matching and mismatching environments during reading and testing phases.

Definition: State-dependent forgetting occurs when information learned in one state is difficult to recall when in a different state.

Key results reiterated:

All conditions spent a similar amount of time reading the article.
Performance was better on multiple-choice than short-answer questions.
Higher scores were achieved in matching conditions.
A significant environmental context effect was observed for both types of tests.
Background noise did not negatively affect studying.

Example: The Grant context-dependent memory study, like the Godden and Baddeley context-dependent memory experiment, demonstrates how environmental cues influence recall.

The procedure is detailed, emphasizing the use of standardized instructions, headphones for all participants, and a two-minute break between reading and testing to minimize short-term memory recall.

Highlight: This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of noise in education and provides insights into optimizing learning environments.

The conclusions reinforce that context-dependent memory effects occur for meaningful material, affecting both recognition and recall, and that background noise does not appear to have a detrimental effect on studying.

Page 1: Experimental Design and Procedure

This page outlines the background, design, and procedure of a laboratory experiment on context-dependent memory retrieval. The study aims to investigate the environmental context dependency effects on recall in psychological experiments.

The experiment employs an independent measures design with four conditions:

Read in silence, test in silence
Read with background noise, test with background noise
Read in silence, test with background noise
Read with background noise, test in silence

The sample consists of 39 participants recruited through an opportunity sample, with ages ranging from 17 to 56 years (mean 23.4), including 17 females and 22 males.

Definition: Context-dependent memory refers to improved recall of specific episodes or information when contextual cues relating to the environment are the same during encoding and retrieval.

The procedure involves two phases:

Participants read an article on psychoimmunology while wearing headphones, either in silence or with background noise.
After a two-minute break, participants are tested on their recall using short answer and multiple-choice questions.

Highlight: The study focuses on the effect of background noise on test performance, using materials and tests typically encountered in school settings.

Example: The "noisy" condition was created by recording students in a cafeteria, simulating a realistic study environment.

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Anna

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Basil

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David K

iOS user

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

Rohan U

Android user

Xander S

iOS user

Elisha

iOS user

Paul T

iOS user

Subjects

Psychology

Learning and Memory

Memory Processes and Encoding

Types of Memory (E.G. Sensory, Short-Term Long-Term)

Psychology

19 Oct 2025

120

3 pages

Why Our Brains Remember Better in Certain Places: The Godden and Baddeley Memory Experiment

Mathilde Taylor @mathildetaylor_sbis

Overall Summary

Context-dependent memory in psychological experiments reveals how environmental cues impact recall. The Godden and Baddeley (1975) experimentis a seminal study in this field. This summary explores a... Show more

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Page 2 Results and Conclusions

This page presents the results and conclusions of the experiment on context-dependent memory in two natural environments silent and noisy conditions.

Key findings include

Participants in all conditions spent an equal amount of time reading the article.
Performance was better on multiple-choice questions than short-answer questions.
Higher test scores were achieved in matching conditions compared to mismatching conditions.
A significant environmental context effect was observed for both types of tests.
Background noise did not have a negative effect on studying.

Quote "Participants got higher test scores on the matching conditions than on the mismatching conditions."

The mean percentage correct on both tests for each condition

Silent-silent 81%
Noisy-Noisy 79%
Silent-Noisy 67%
Noisy-Silent 70%

Highlight The results suggest that context-dependent memory effects occur for meaningful material, and both recognition and recall are affected by environmental context.

Vocabulary State-dependent memory is a related concept where the internal state $e.g., mood, drug-induced state$ during encoding affects recall when in the same state.

The experiment concludes that environmental context dependency effects are significant for meaningful material, and background noise does not have a detrimental effect on studying.

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Page 3 Summary and Additional Details

This page provides a comprehensive summary of the laboratory experiment on context-dependent memory retrieval, reinforcing key aspects of the study design, procedure, and results.

Definition State-dependent forgetting occurs when information learned in one state is difficult to recall when in a different state.

Key results reiterated

All conditions spent a similar amount of time reading the article.
Performance was better on multiple-choice than short-answer questions.
Higher scores were achieved in matching conditions.
A significant environmental context effect was observed for both types of tests.
Background noise did not negatively affect studying.

Example The Grant context-dependent memory study, like the Godden and Baddeley context-dependent memory experiment, demonstrates how environmental cues influence recall.

The procedure is detailed, emphasizing the use of standardized instructions, headphones for all participants, and a two-minute break between reading and testing to minimize short-term memory recall.

Highlight This study contributes to our understanding of the impact of noise in education and provides insights into optimizing learning environments.

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Page 1 Experimental Design and Procedure

The experiment employs an independent measures design with four conditions

Read in silence, test in silence
Read with background noise, test with background noise
Read in silence, test with background noise
Read with background noise, test in silence

The sample consists of 39 participants recruited through an opportunity sample, with ages ranging from 17 to 56 years (mean 23.4), including 17 females and 22 males.

Definition Context-dependent memory refers to improved recall of specific episodes or information when contextual cues relating to the environment are the same during encoding and retrieval.

The procedure involves two phases

Participants read an article on psychoimmunology while wearing headphones, either in silence or with background noise.
After a two-minute break, participants are tested on their recall using short answer and multiple-choice questions.

Highlight The study focuses on the effect of background noise on test performance, using materials and tests typically encountered in school settings.

Example The "noisy" condition was created by recording students in a cafeteria, simulating a realistic study environment.