grant

• background

  • encoding specificity principle - memory is best when the same cue is present at encoding at the time of retrieval
• aim - to show the effects of learning information and recalling information in the same environment
• method

  • independent measures design
  • dv - ps performance on the short answer test and multiple choice
  • iv - silent or noisy conditions, miss matching or matching conditions
• sample

  • 8 researchers selected 5 friends
  • 39 ps final, one omitted
  • opportunity sampling
• procedure

  1. os randomly assigned to conditions , given a cassette player of canteen nosies
  2. ps read the two page psychoimmunology article once and were timed
  3. they then waited 2 mins to ensure memory not in short term
  4. completed short answer test first then multiple choice
  5. then debriefed
• results

  • silent silent = 7/10 short answer questions, silent noisy = 5/10 short answer questions
  • ps is matching conditions did better than mis matching, ps in silent condition did better than noisy condition
• conclusions

  • The theory of context-dependent memory has been supported. The reason why performance in both tests was better when the condition was matching is that the environmental context forms part of the memory trace which aids recall of the information. 
• strengths

  • high standardisation
  • quantitative data gathered
  • ethical
• weaknesses

  • independent measures design
  • quantitative data
  • researcher bias