MSM Studies Quiz

What was the primary focus of the Peterson and Peterson (1959) study?

• Long-term memory retention

• Short-term memory duration

• Sensory memory processing

• Procedural memory

Answer explanation

The Peterson and Peterson (1959) study primarily focused on short-term memory duration, investigating how quickly information is forgotten when rehearsal is prevented, thus highlighting the limits of short-term memory.

Which method did Peterson and Peterson use to prevent rehearsal in their study?

• Asking participants to solve mathematical problems

• Distracting participants with music

• Asking participants to count backwards in threes

• Providing participants with a different task

Answer explanation

Peterson and Peterson used the method of asking participants to count backwards in threes to prevent rehearsal. This task occupied their cognitive resources, making it difficult to repeat the information they were trying to remember.

What was the typical duration of short-term memory according to Peterson and Peterson's findings?

• 5-10 seconds

• 15-30 seconds

• 1-2 minutes

• 3-5 minutes

Answer explanation

According to Peterson and Peterson's research, the typical duration of short-term memory is 15-30 seconds. This finding highlights the limited time information can be retained without rehearsal.

In the Peterson and Peterson study, what type of stimuli were participants asked to remember?

• Words

• Numbers

• Consonant trigrams

• Images

Answer explanation

In the Peterson and Peterson study, participants were specifically asked to remember consonant trigrams, which are groups of three consonants. This was done to investigate the duration of short-term memory.

How did the findings of Peterson and Peterson (1959) contribute to the understanding of memory?

• They demonstrated the capacity of long-term memory

• They highlighted the importance of rehearsal for memory retention

• They showed that short-term memory is unlimited

• They proved that memory is not affected by interference

Answer explanation

Peterson and Peterson (1959) found that rehearsal significantly aids memory retention, demonstrating that without rehearsal, information decays quickly from short-term memory. This highlighted the critical role of rehearsal in memory processes.

What was the main conclusion drawn from the Peterson and Peterson study?

• Short-term memory can last indefinitely without rehearsal

• Short-term memory is highly susceptible to decay without rehearsal

• Long-term memory is more reliable than short-term memory

• Sensory memory is the most important type of memory

Answer explanation

The Peterson and Peterson study demonstrated that short-term memory is highly susceptible to decay without rehearsal, as participants struggled to recall information after brief intervals without practicing the material.

Which of the following best describes the experimental design used by Peterson and Peterson?

• Longitudinal study

• Case study

• Laboratory experiment

• Field experiment

Answer explanation

Peterson and Peterson conducted a laboratory experiment to investigate short-term memory retention. This controlled setting allowed them to manipulate variables and observe participants' recall under specific conditions.

What was a significant limitation of the Peterson and Peterson study?

• It only included male participants

• It had low ecological validity

• It had high internal validity

• It was conducted in a natural setting

Answer explanation

The Peterson and Peterson study had low ecological validity because it was conducted in a controlled lab setting, which may not reflect real-world memory recall situations, limiting the generalizability of its findings.

What was the primary reason for H.M.'s surgery?

• To improve his memory

• To treat his epilepsy

• To enhance his cognitive abilities

• To study the effects of brain surgery

Answer explanation

H.M.'s surgery was primarily to treat his epilepsy, which caused severe seizures. The other options, such as improving memory or cognitive abilities, were not the main reasons for the procedure.

Which part of H.M.'s brain was removed during the surgery?

• The frontal lobe

• The occipital lobe

• The hippocampus

• The cerebellum

Answer explanation

The hippocampus was removed during H.M.'s surgery to treat his epilepsy. This area is crucial for memory formation, which is why H.M. experienced significant memory loss after the procedure.