Bartlett's theory of reconstructive memory

• What did the War of the Ghosts study demonstrate about memory?

  Memory is an active process of rebuilding
• According to the theory presented, is memory perfectly accurate?

  No, memory is generally inaccurate
• How does the theory describe the accuracy of our memory?

  Elements are missing and not accurate representations
• According to the theory, how do we recall information from long-term memory?

  We recombine small pieces to tell a story
• How often are the elements combined the same way during recall?

  Each time they are combined differently
• What affects the way information is stored and recalled, according to the theory?

  Social and cultural expectations
• What do we focus on to make sense of a story, according to the theory?

  The meaning of events
• What does focusing on the meaning of events involve?

  Making an effort to understand the meaning
• What is a strength of using a story in memory research compared to word lists?

  Reflects how we use memory in everyday life
• What kind of material does the research use?

  It uses a story
• How does using a story make the results of memory research stronger?

  More relevant to real-life memory processes
• According to the text, is it always the case that memories are reconstructed?

  No, not all memories are reconstructed
• What phrase was often recalled accurately in the study?

  ‘Something black came out of his mouth’
• What area is reconstructive memory used to explain problems with?

  Eyewitness testimony (EWT)
• What did Bartlett's research show about expectations and memory?

  Memory is affected by expectations
• Because of reconstructive memory, how is eyewitness testimony regarded?

  No longer solely relied on as evidence
• What happens when two memories compete with each other?

  One memory may prevent accessing the other