Why Are Memory Not Reliable

Hayley Everts

Candidate Number: 002315 0007

Psychology HL-2

2/26/2015

Word Count: 1,702

Abstract

Write this – summary of experiment

Introduction

Memory can be defined as the faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information, and its psychological study over the years has greatly contributed to our understanding as to how it works. In cases such as eyewitness testimony, it has been revealed by numerous psychologists that the aspect of memory can be unreliable. For example, many of the early studies over memory and cognitive processing (e.g. Bartlett, 1932) demonstrate that memories are not accurate records of our experiences and can often be changed and replicated. The act of remembering is an active process that

In the study, the independent variable was the verb used in the question pertaining to the cars’ speed, i.e. “collided” vs. “smashed,” while the dependent variable was the speed estimated by the 24 participants. To avoid demand characteristics, three extra questions were inserted in order to draw attention away from the question relevant to the estimation of the cars’ speeds. In the standardized instructions provided, we also encouraged the participants to refrain from sharing answers to avoid conformity. To address ethical considerations, the participants were informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any given time and were both briefed and debriefed during the study. The experiment itself aimed at causing no psychological and/or physiological discomfort to the participants, and they all signed a note of informed consent in order to take part in the

Before you can participate in this study, I must obtain your consent and the consent of your parent(s).

• You will be briefed and then after the experiment, debriefed on the exact nature of the experiment.

• You have the right to withdraw from the experiment at any time.

• Any results/information/data about you will remain confidential and the final report will include your results only generally in terms of overall statistics and will not specifically report on any one student’s answers/results.

• Your anonymity will be protected and your name will not be identifiable.

• The experiment will be conducted so that you will not be demeaned or harmed in any way.

Thank you for your cooperation! If you have questions, you may contact my teacher, Ms. Rhodes at [e-mail]; she will verify my involvement in this experiment and address any concerns/questions you may have. Please return by Wednesday, Febuary 4.

Sincerely,

Hayley Everts and Faithmarie Winn

I, ______________, agree to participate in this study. ______________________

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