Psychology Coursework

Authors Avatar

Psychology Coursework: Memory Experiment on Levels of Processing

Method;

Design;

For my experiment I used a repeated measures design; the key benefits of this design are that it makes an experiment more efficient and aids in keeping inconsistencies minimal. This helps to keep the validity of the results higher, while still allowing for smaller than usual subject groups.  Equally, I used an experiment because it is easier to control the variables.

The independent variable in my experiment is whether the words are deeply processed or shallowly processed and my dependent variable is the number of both, deep and shallowly processed words remembered.

Extraneous variables that I have to take into consideration when carrying out my experiment are: mobile phones going off and noise on the corridors distracting participants. To control these variables and make sure they do not interfere with my experiment I will ask all participants to switch off all mobiles during the ‘Standardised Instructions’ and I will carry out my experiment in a quiet area of the school.

There are also ethical issues that have to be contemplated before I carry out my experiment:

  • Confidentiality - all participants will remain anonymous.
  • Deception – I will not lie throughout my experiment,
  • Debrief – this will be read out at the end of my experiment.  
  • Withdrawal – all participants have the right to withdraw from my experiment at any time; I will inform participants of this during the ‘Standardised Instructions’.
  • Informed Consent – all participants will know what is happening within my experiment.
  • Protection – no one will be harmed during my experiment.
Join now!

Participants;

My target population for this experiment is 16 year old girls from Whalley Range 11-18 High School in Manchester, England.

The sampling method I will use for my experiment was Opportunity Sampling because I used the people that were available to me; it is a quick and easy way to get my participants. I used 20 participants who all did both conditions.

Materials;

  • 1 x Stopwatch
  • 20 x sheets with words and questions on
  • 20 x sheets of paper
  • 20 x pens

Procedure;

Introduction;

I am looking at ...

This is a preview of the whole essay