Method
Design
The experiment used a single blind, repeated measures design. This type of design was utilized to reduce differences such as gender and age.
Environmental control was upheld by testing in groups and in an enclosed environment with no distractions from outside the experiment. All participants received the same word lists and stimulus and were all given the same time limit to complete the experiment in the same conditions.
The independent variable of the experiment was the word type, abstract or concrete words. The dependent variable of the experiment was the number of words recalled. The controlled variables of the experiment were the conditions, the amount of words, the time limit, the stimulus and the word lists.
The experiment contained no perceived risks, with the participants required to remember short lists of words and recall these words in a safe, non-threatening environment.
The title of the experiment did not include the hypothesis, and to that point, deception was used.
All participants were under the age of 18 and this formed a vulnerable group. Because of this, parental consent forms (Appendix 4) were issued to all participants and was to be completed before taking apart in the experiment. An information sheet (Appendix 2) was also given to the participants, stating that the participant was allowed to withdraw from the experiment at any given time with no penalty.
Participants
Seventeen voluntary participants between the ages of 13 to 16 (4 female, 13 male) took part in the experiment. All these participants were all students of a selective academy in Queensland. These participants made up an opportunity sample because the academy was a selective and there was a small range in age of the participants. Therefore, this sample was not a representation of the extensive public, but was a representation of a target population, the students of the academy.
Apparatus/Materials
Slide-show format was used for the experiment with the slide-show presented to the participants on a projector screen through a laptop. A singled word was shown on each slide of the presentation; the slides were timed to present each word for two seconds. After each set of words, there would be a slide informing the participant to write down the words recalled from that particular set of words. The participants were given 30 seconds to write down the words they recalled then a new set of words would show.
The documents constructed for this experiment included, parental consent form (Appendix 4), information sheet (Appendix 5), participant response sheet (Appendix 3), Standardised instructions and Debriefing Statement (Appendix 6 & 7).
Procedure
Instruction Phase
All participants were seated facing the projector screen and provided with a participant response sheet (Appendix 3), on which they wrote their age and gender. Standardised instructions (Appendix 6) were read by the experimenter and time was provided for any queries or questions before the testing commenced.
Study phase
Word lists were presented on the projector screen through the laptop computer.
Recall/Test phase
After each trial of eight words, participants were given 30 seconds to recall the words they could on the participant response sheet.
Debriefing phase
When testing was completed, participant response sheets were required to be handed back and a debrief statement (Appendix 7) was verbally communicated to the participants by the experimenter.
Results
The maximum recall of each type of word was 32 words. After the experiment was conducted, the results were placed in a Raw Data Table (Appendix 2). The mean recall of concrete and abstract words was calculated and is presented in the graph below.
The mean recall of the concrete words was 21.41 words, and the mean recall of the abstract words was 16.71 words, this was out of a maximum total of 32 for both abstract and concrete words.
These results help support Dukes and Bastian (1966) by determining that concrete words (M = 21.41) have a higher mean recall than abstract words (M = 16.71).
Discussion
The results show that the mean recall of the concrete words was higher than the mean recall of the abstract words. These results supported the results found by Dukes and Bastian (1966) in their experiment helps support the statement that concrete words are recalled higher than abstract words.
The results show that the mean recall of the concrete words was higher than the mean recall of the abstract words. These results supported the results found by Dukes and Bastian (1966) in their experiment helps support the statement that concrete words are recalled higher than abstract words. These results also support Paivio’s theory (1969). More participants could have improved the experiment, making the results more valid. To conclude, the results in this study support the findings and results of the Dukes and Bastian study (1966) on whether concrete words are easier to recall than abstract words.
References
Dukes, W.F., & Bastian, J. (1966). Recall of abstract and concrete words equated for meaningfulnesss. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 5, 455-458.
Neath, I., & Suprenant, A.M. (2003) Human memory (2nd ed). US: Thomson Wadsworth
Carlson, N.R., Martin, G.N., & Buskist, W. (2004). Psychology (2nd ed). Essex, UK: Pearson Education.
Appendices
Appendix 1
Appendix 2
Raw Data Table
Appendix 4
Queensland Academy for
Science, Mathematics and Technology
ABN 83103205154
Bywong Street, (P.O. Box 303),
Toowong, Q. 4066
Ph: 3377 9333 Fax: 3377 9300
Participant’s Name (capitals): __________________________________________________________
Name of Project: A partial replication of Dukes and Bastian study on the recall of Concrete and Abstract Words
- I consent to participate in the above project, the particulars of which – including details of tests or procedures – have been explained to me.
- I authorise the investigator or his or her assistant to use with me the tests or procedures referred to under (1) above.
- I acknowledge that
- The possible effects of the tests or procedures have been explained to me.
- I have been informed that I am free to withdraw from the project at any time and to withdraw any data just supplied.
- The project is for the purpose of research and/or teaching and not for treatment.
- I have been informed that my anonymity is guaranteed and that the confidentiality of the information I provide will be safeguarded.
Signed: _____________________________ Date: _________________________ (Participant)
If participant is under the age of 18yrs Parent/Guardian to also sign:
Signed: _____________________________ Date: _________________________
(Parent/Guardian)
Name of Investigator (print): ____________________________________________
_____________________________ Date: ____________________
(Signature of investigator)
Name of Supervisor (print):______________________________________________
_____________________________ Date: ____________________
(Signature of supervisor)
Appendix 5
Queensland Academy for
Science, Mathematics and Technology
ABN 83103205154
Bywong Street, (P.O. Box 303),
Toowong, Q. 4066
Ph: 3377 9333 Fax: 3377 9300
Project Title:
A partial replication of Dukes and Bastian study on the recall of Concrete and Abstract Words
Investigator:
Supervisor: Ms. Zainab Ali
Area of Investigation: Dual-Coding
Experimental Task: Viewing Short Lists of Words and Recalling the Words
Type of Participants: Students of the QASMT
You are invited to participate in a study of dual-coding recall. The aim of this experiment is to determine whether abstract words or concrete words obtain a higher mean recall on immediate free recall.
Procedures to be Followed: This study will require you to complete an experiment of remembering short lists of concrete and abstract words over a period of about 7 minutes. You will be informed of expected outcomes on the conclusion of testing.
Possible Discomforts and Risks: There are no perceived discomforts or risks associated with the conduct of these experiments. However, we are ethically obliged to provide you with a suitable contact person should you experience any distress. This is the Dean of Student Services, Mr Troy Gorman (Ph: 33779322)
Responsibilities of the Researcher: No personal information will be required in order to participate in this study. All data will be collected anonymously, thus cannot be linked in any way with the participant. All results will be reported as aggregate data only.
Responsibilities of the Participant: It is the responsibility of the participant to fully disclose information which could affect safety or the value of the research.
Freedom of Consent: Participation in this study is entirely voluntary. You will be free to withdraw from the experiment at any time and to withdraw your personal data and responses.
Inquiries: If you have any questions please contact the project supervisor: Ms. Zainab Ali
Contact Details: Bywong Street, (P.O. Box 303),
Toowong, Q. 4066
Ph: 3377 9333 Fax: 3377 9300
Email:
Appendix 6
Standardised Instructions
In this experiment you will be required to recall short lists of words. Each list is made up of eight words. Words will be displayed on the projector screen every two seconds. You are required to write down the words you have recalled after each set, you will be given 30 seconds to do so on the participant response sheet. You do not need to write the words in any particular order. There will be 8 tests in total.
Do you have any questions before we begin?
Appendix 7
Debriefing Statement
This experiment was aimed to be a replication of Dukes and Bastian (1966) study. This experiment measures the mean recall of abstract words compared to concrete words. The results collected from this experiment will be compared to the Dukes and Bastian results.
