Study

• Pysch Being Investigated

  doodling affects concentration: demand on cognition by dividing attention

  -raises arousal enhancing attention if practiced

  -reduces daydreaming

  
  

  working memory model: 2 used at same time, visuo-spatial, auditory 'control executive'

  -primary: listening (auditory mem)

  -concurrent: visual (doodling)
• Background

  expectation: concurrent task (doodling) interfere less w overall process; impact on attention/recall

  -aid attention

  -prevent lvls arousal dipping
• Aim

  does doodling assist information process?

  -help par accurately monitor a mock telephone message

  -increase depth processed message, improve recall
• Research Method

  laboratory exp

  design: independent measures (control/doodling group)
• Sample

  40 meb par panel UK Med Research Council

  -gen pop 18-55yrs, paid

  20 each group

  -18f, 2m control; 17f 3m doodling

  joined after unrelated experience to enhance boredom
• Procedure

  response sheet for both

  -control: lined paper (could doodle, none)

  -doodle: A4 printed paper shapes on left w/ wide margin for response

  -shade w pencil, no worry neatness
• Monotonous Telephone Features

  2.5 mins, 227wpm

  8 names attending: Jane, William, Claire, Suzie, Jenny, Tony/Phil

  3 people not attending: Craig, John, Nicky, +cat Ben

  8 place names: London, Harlow, Peterborough
• Independent Variable

  doodle/not group

  -told beforehand tested on names attending (not ones who wont) MONITORING task

  -unexpected: names of places RECALL TASK

  -order of tests counterbalanced
• Dependent Variable

  recall

  -operationalize: plausible mishearing's Greg for Craig, counted as correct

  -other names, not party goers (John) false alarms + new names generated

  • other words (sister) ignored
• Procedure: Mem

  Final Mem score: monitored info (names), incidental info (places)

  correct names/places - false alarms

  
  

  -standardized instructions: pretend list, dull msg, don't remember, just write names people coming, ignore those who cant, do not write anything else

  
  

  collected response, apology for misleading about memory test

  -comp surprise memory test recall place/people

  -debriefed asked if suspected memory test
• Results

  mean # shaded shapes: 36.3, range of 3-110

  -no par in control doodled spont

  3 doodlers, 4 controls susp mem test (dem char)

  -none actively tried to remember
• Results: #

  Cg: mean of 7.1/8 party goers, 5 people made false alarm

  Eg: mean 7.8/8 party goers, 1 false alarm

  OVERALL

  -doodle par recalled 7.5 names and places 29% more than mean 5.8 control group

  -recall monitored/incidental info better for doodlers
• Conclusion

  doodling helps concentrate on primary task

  -eg (doodling as concurrent task perf better)

  
  

  EXPLANATION:

  doodlers noticed more target words, effect on attention (inc arousal, reducing daydreaming)

  -maintain attention prim task

  
  

  doodling improve memory directly w deeper info proc

  -no measure of daydreaming dif distinguish

  -*could have used self-reports/brain scan
• Strengths

  lab exp using indep measures: limited uncontrolled var

  -volume list comf, rec telephone msg words same way

  
  

  standardized: equally bored, more likely to daydream

  -monotony, dull, quiet room, expected to go home

  
  

  more valid: dif in conditions, replicable par sim bored

  -operationalized: doodling sheets, increased validity, par doodle naturalistic way
• Weaknesses


  -risk par variables, # shapes diferred

  
  

  Generalizability:

  -not rep of children sample of 18-55yrs adults

  -all memb part of recruitment panel, interest in psych, BIAS lower validity

  -risk dem char (didnt actively try to remb) but equal par susp mem test

  
  

  ONLY quantitative data:

  -objective, qualitative data such as self rep on daydreaming could have been explored
• Ethics

  unable to give fully informed consent

  -unexpected test on place names

  
  

  -could make distressed unable to remember (protection from harm)

  -did debrief about deception