AAQ Practice: Memory Concepts

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AAQ Practice: PART A - What research method is used in this study? In a lab setting, participants were randomly assigned to either listen to music or sit in silence while memorizing a list of words. Their recall ability was then tested to determine the effect of background music on memory performance.

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Experiment

Answer explanation

• This is an experimental study because it involves random assignment to groups (music vs. silence) and manipulation of an independent variable (background music) to observe its effect on memory.

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AAQ Practice: PART A - What research method is used in this study? A team of psychologists conducted an in-depth analysis of a 45-year-old individual with hyperthymesia, a rare condition of exceptionally detailed autobiographical memory, to better understand how this condition affects daily life and cognitive processing.

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Case Study

Answer explanation

• This is a case study because it focuses on an in-depth examination of one individual with a unique condition (hyperthymesia) that cannot be ethically or practically replicated.

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AAQ Practice: PART A - What research method is used in this study? Researchers reviewed and analyzed findings from 15 studies that investigated the effects of mnemonic devices on long-term memory retention in high school students, combining the data to identify overall trends.

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Meta-Analysis

Answer explanation

• This is a meta-analysis because it involves combining data from multiple studies to analyze overall trends related to mnemonic devices and memory retention.

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AAQ Practice: PART A - What research method is used in this study? Psychologists observed interactions between preschool children on a playground, noting instances where children spontaneously helped peers remember the rules of games, without influencing or interacting with the children.

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Naturalistic Observation

Answer explanation

• This is naturalistic observation because researchers observed behaviors in a natural, untouched environment (a playground) without interacting with or influencing the participants.

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AAQ Practice: PART A - What research method is used in this study? A study surveyed adults to measure their daily caffeine intake and performance on memory tests, analyzing the relationship between these two variables.

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Correlational Research Study

Answer explanation

• This is a correlational study because it examines the relationship between two variables (caffeine intake and memory performance) without manipulating either.

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AAQ Practice: PART A - What research method is used in this study? Psychologists observed library patrons and recorded how often they used mnemonic devices, such as acronyms or mental imagery, while studying, without interacting with them.

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Naturalistic Observation

Answer explanation

• This is a naturalistic observation because researchers collected data on behaviors (mnemonic use) in a natural environment (a library) without intervention.

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AAQ Part B - What is the operational definition of the dependent variable? Researchers are investigating whether background noise affects memory recall. Participants are divided into two groups: one studies a list of 20 words in a quiet room, and the other studies the same list with loud music playing.

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The number of words correctly recalled by participants after studying.

Answer explanation

Remember: The operational definition is a specific explanation of the variable (how it is measured or quantified).

The dependent variable is what the study measures to determine the effect of the independent variable.

In this study, the dependent variable is memory recall, operationally defined by the number of words correctly recalled.

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AAQ Part B - What is the operational definition of the independent variable? A study investigates whether using flashcards or taking notes is more effective for improving memory. Participants use one of the two methods to study definitions, and their scores on a memory test are recorded.

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The method participants use to study (flashcards or taking notes).

Answer explanation

Remember: The operational definition is a specific explanation of the variable (how it is measured or quantified).

The independent variable is what the researchers manipulate to examine its effect on the dependent variable.

In this case, the two methods (flashcards and note-taking) are the manipulated conditions.

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AAQ Part B - What is the operational definition of the independent variable? Researchers examine whether sleep duration influences how well people remember a series of pictures. Participants are split into groups that sleep for 4, 6, or 8 hours, then take a picture recognition test.

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The total hours participants slept before the test.

Answer explanation

Remember: The operational definition is a specific explanation of the variable (how it is measured or quantified).

The independent variable is the factor that researchers manipulate, which in this study is the duration of sleep (4, 6, or 8 hours).

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AAQ Part B - What is the operational definition of the dependent variable? A team of psychologists tests whether consuming sugar improves short-term memory. Participants drink either a sugary beverage or a sugar-free placebo before attempting to memorize and recite a sequence of numbers.

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The number of numbers participants can recite from memory.

Answer explanation

Remember: The operational definition is a specific explanation of the variable (how it is measured or quantified).

The dependent variable in this study is memory, measured by the participants’ ability to recall numbers after consuming a sugary or sugar-free beverage.