Reconstructive Memory

Who theorised that people reconstruct their memories based on prior experiences called schemas?

• Jean Piaget

• Elizabeth Loftus

• Carl Rogers

• Frederick Bartlett

What does Bartlett describe a schema as?

• A vague and hypothetical concept

• An active organisation of past reactions or experiences

• A fixed memory storage

• A precise memory recall

According to Bartlett, how do schemas affect the recall of memories?

• Schemas have no impact on memory recall

• Memories are recalled in chronological order

• Schemas cannot be reconstructed

• We can be flexible with our schemas and access what is most relevant

What was the story used by Bartlett to test his theory?

• The North American Folk Tale

• The Great Gatsby

• The War of the Ghosts

• The Tale of Two Cities

What does confabulation mean?

• Deliberately lying

• A type of photographic memory

• Making things up without the intent to deceive

• Remembering events accurately

What did Loftus and Palmer's research demonstrate?

• Memory can be altered by changing a verb

• Memory is always accurate

• Memory can be altered by changing a noun

• Memory cannot be influenced by external factors

What is a criticism of Bartlett's theory?

• It is universally accepted

• It is too detailed

• It is reductionist

• It explains memory processing accurately

How did Bartlett's 'War of the Ghosts' research lack control?

• Participants' responses were too consistent

• It was not conducted in a systematic way

• It used standardised instructions

• Participants were given too much guidance

What role do schemas play in our perception and memory?

• They have no role

• They ensure our memories are always accurate

• They help us quickly interpret sensory information

• They prevent us from making swift judgements

What is the implication of Loftus and Palmer's research for police interviews?

• Leading questions can influence eyewitness testimony

• Eyewitness testimony is always reliable

• Changing a verb has no effect on memory recall

• Memory cannot be distorted