Improving Memory

Strategies for Improving memory

a. Cues

b. Mnemonics and mind maps

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Eye witness

Cognitive interview

retrieval

Primacy effect

Phonological loop

Strategies for memory Improvement

BATs

AO1 -Describe and use various strategies for improving memory (organisation, mnemonics, imagery, active processing)

AO2 - Understand how such strategies are related to memory research

ROP interviews today!

Strategies for memory Improvement

You need to learn at least 2 strategies for improving memory.

We will focus on the following – these are in your text book and revision guide

a. Cues

b. Mnemonics and mind maps

Try an experimentLearning word lists• At rest or during exercise• Whilst Chewing gum or not chewing gum• In different rooms

Procedure :Learn word list for 11/2 minutes

Group 1• Recall list a. immediately, b. after a delay (24

hrs ideally) in same condition

Group 2: Recall list a. immediately, b. after a delay (24 hrs ideally) in different condition

Get into groups of 5

(1 group of 6)1 experimenter 2 ppts in each

condition

Try an experimentLearning word lists• Whilst Chewing gum or not chewing gum

Procedure :Learn word list for 11/2 minutes Groups 1 and 3• Recall list a. immediately, b. after a delay

(24 hrs ideally) in same conditionGroup 2 and 4 : Recall list a. immediately, b.

after a delay (24 hrs ideally) in different condition

Get into groups of 4

Each group will do a different

condition

Analysing Data

Condition 1

Chew, chew

Condition 2

Chew, no chew

Condition 3

No chew, no chew

Condition 4

No chew, chew

Number of words correct

mean

Use of Cues

Cues act as a trigger to help recall memory.

• Context – Abernethy (1940),

• Baker et al (2004) Chewing gum expt,

• Godden and Baddeley (75),

• Mead and Ball (2007)

Use of Cues

Cues act as a trigger to help recall memory.

• State –dependency –

• Miles and Hardman (98),

• Goodwin (69) Alcohol and keys

• Bower et al (81) - mood

Using cues

To improve recall ..• Context and state cues need to be as

similar as possible to the original learning situation.

• So to perform best in exams…• Context – revise with a mascot or favourite

pen• State – stay calm whilst revising and

during exam (easier said than done!!)

Use of Cues

Elaboration – elaborative rehearsal is more effective than maintenance rehearsal as the info becomes meaningful and is encoded in a way that suits LTM

e.g. Morris et al (81) – football fans have better recall of scores

Organisation – using categories – Tulving and Pearlstone (66)

Now try this …

• 2 groups

• Group 1 will learn list 1 for 11/2 minutes

• Group 2 will learn list 2 for 11/2 minutes

Organisation Tulving and Pearlestone (66)

DaffodilPlumNoseWeatherCopperFlowersBrassFootTulipsPansySleetOrangeToeSnowFlute

PearClarinetHailRainRoseHandIronGoldHarpPianoMetalAppleBodyFruitinstruments

FruitApplePearPlumOrangeWeatherSnowRainSleetHailFlowersDaffodilRosePansyTulip

InstrumentsHarpPianoFluteClarinetBodyNoseFootToeHandMetalBrassGoldCopperiron

Analysis

• Where more words remembered in the categorised or random list condition?

• Work out the mean, median and mode for this data (measures of central tendency).

• How varied was the data? What was the range in each condition? (Measure of dispersion)

• Draw a simple bar chart for this and the chewing gum experiment.

Plenary – extension work

• Look back at the studies on p25-27 – for each state …

• Aim

• IV/DV

• Research design (Independent Groups or repeated measures)

• Any validity and ethical issues?

Verbal Mnemonics

Acronyms E.g

Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain

Good when remembering the order of something

Verbal Mnemonics

Rhymes E.g

• i before e except after c

• 30 days hath September …..

Also good when remembering the order of something

Visual Imagery Mnemonics

• Method of Loci – items put in locations in a familiar place

Good for visual learners!

Visual Imagery Mnemonics

Narrative Chaining – story made up using items to be remembered

Good for verbal learners!

Visual Imagery Mnemonics

Key word technique – 1. Acoustic stage

2. Visual stage

3. Rehearsal stage

E.g baguette – french stick in a bag

Very good when learning another language

Visual Imagery Mnemonics

Peg-word system - visualisation

• One-bun

• Two-shoe

• Three – tree ….

• See p28/9 Exploring Psychology

• Good for shopping lists

Visual Imagery Mnemonics

Mind maps

Giving each page of revision notes an unique, distinctive visual appearance

An example of elaborative rehearsal

Plenary

• Evaluate as a group the strengths and weaknesses of each Memory Improvement Strategy

• You could construct a table to fill in your responses

Last lesson on memory!!

Starter• Create a new mnemonic for Year 7 to

learn the order of the planets now Pluto is no longer a planet!!

Watch the film clip

• What Memory Improvement technique is used by Andy and Prof Winstone?

Method of Loci

Now try the strategies yourself!!

• Use one of the techniques you have learned today to learn as much as you can about a new topic.

• You must learn the article ‘Secret of exam success? Rosy memories’ on p27 of Exploring Psychology

• You will be tested later!!!

Rosy Memories Test1. What 2 powers of recall are often improved by a

good night’s sleep?2. Name the professor? 3. How did subjects receive the smell of roses?4. What memory task did the subjects do?5. Name the Clinic where the brain scanner was.6. Which part of the brain did the roses activate?7. What percentage of words were remembered

correctly by the no odour subjects?8. Which establishment does Matthew Wilson come

from?9. Name the journal the neuroscientists reported

their study in?10. During which part of sleep was the smell given?

Rosy Memories Test1. What 2 powers of recall are often improved by a good night’s sleep?Shopping lists and dance routines2. Name the professor? Prof Born3. How did subjects receive the smell of roses? Through a nasal mask4. What memory task did the subjects do?Remembering the location of pairs of cards5. Name the Clinic where the brain scanner was.University Clinic Hamburg-Eppendorf6. Which part of the brain did the roses activate? Hippocampus

7. What percentage of words were remembered correctly by the no odour subjects?86%8. Which establishment does Matthew Wilson come from?Massachusetts Institute of Technology9. Name the journal the neuroscientists reported their study in? Science

10. During which part of sleep was the smell given? Slow wave Sleep

Which Technique was most Effective?

Technique Score mean

Narrative chaining

Method of Loci

Categorisation

Mind map

Homework

• What have I learnt this week?

• Revision – use at least one of the techniques you learnt about today to help you revise for a mock exam after half term (Periods 1 and 2)

• No books will be allowed!!!!

• Exam will be up to 1.5 hours long!!

• Both SJ and RN’s topics included!!!

Good luck!!!