Class Experiment

Class Experiment Psych 231: Research Methods in Psychology

Today going to go over the design and procedures for the class experiment. • Make sure that you download the experiment packet and test your participants this weekend Class experiment

Instructions (1/2 the class): • I’m going to read a list of words. • Please listen to each word on the list. After each word I’d like you to respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ whether the word has a letter ‘a’ in it • After I’m done, please count backwards (aloud) by threes from the number that I give you. • Then I’ll tell you to write down as many of the words as you can. Any questions? • Read list • 683 Memory Demonstration

Instructions (the other 1/2 of the class): • I’m going to read a list of words. • Please LISTEN to each word on the list. After each word I’d like you to respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ whether the word is something that you associate with your experience at Illinois State University • After I’m done, please count backwards by threes from the number that I give you. • Then I’ll tell you to write down as many of the words as you can. • Read list • 537 Memory Demonstration

Please recall as many of the items now (write them down). • Check: car hammer fate happiness book effort bird money hope knowledge apple interest theory ocean pencil moral microscope anger chance baby Recall

What variables might influence performance on a memory task like this? • We’ll select two things: • Type of word - abstract or concrete • Level of processing - how “deeply” the words are processed The issues

car hammer fate happiness book effort bird money hope knowledge apple interest theory ocean pencil moral microscope anger chance baby Word type

Go ahead and count up how many abstract and how many concrete words you remembered. car hammer fate happiness book effort bird money hope knowledge apple interest theory ocean pencil moral microscope anger chance baby Concrete words Abstract words Word type

What variables might influence performance on a memory task like this? • We’ll select two things: • Type of word - abstract or concrete • Level of processing - how “deeply” the words are processed The issues

Two levels of processing: Shallow: Is there an “a” Deep: Related to ISU BOOK CAR DESK DRESSER FLOWER MAGAZINE happiness happiness Levels of processing

What are the issues that we’re looking at? • What is the Dependent variable? • Construct? • Operationalized? • What is/are the Independent variable(s)? • Word type • Op: words rated as abstract or concrete • Level of processing • Op: Shallow processing: “does word have an ‘a’ in it?” Deep processing: “is the word related to ISU experience?” memory accurate recall of words from list The issues

How many conditions do we have? • What is the design of the study? • 2 factors Level of processing “a” in it ISU related Abstract Word type Concrete • What are your predictions? The design

I have put the materials together and posted them on the syllabus (click on “class experiment”) • Your homework is to • Download “Exp packet” • Find two volunteers • Collect some data • Bring the data back to class on Monday (or Tuesday) • I will compile and analyze the results • You will go over the summarized results in labs • Based on this experiment and these results you will produce an APA style research report Class experiment

In the packet you’ll find: • Instructions • To create the stimuli • To read to your participants • For compiling the data (data sheet provided) • Two consent forms • Debriefing sheet Class experiment

Find 2 volunteers • Test each participant (one-at-a-time, in one of the conditions) • Following presentation of the word list • Have them count backwards by 3s for 15 sec. • Ask them to recall as many of the words as they can (have them write them down) • Shuffle the word order (the cards) before each participant • Count up the number of correctly recalled abstract and concrete words and enter this information into the data summary sheet • Bring the data back to class on Monday (or Tues) The Procedure

What do we need to control? • Presentation rate • Amount of time for recall • Number of items on the list • Actual items on the list • Any other things we need to think about? • Ethics • Consent form, debriefing • I have create these and they are part of the experiment packet that you download 1 second per item 90 seconds 20 items Same concrete and abstract words The design

Complete APA style research report • Intro • There are 3 required readings which you must include these in your introduction • Kroll & Merves (1986) • Craik & Tulving (1975) • Groninger & Groninger (1982) • Additionally, you must find at least 1 additional article to include in your introduction • Methods, Results, Discussion, References, etc. • Two drafts (see web pages for specific details) • 1st: due week 9 • Final: due week 14 The class paper

Class Experiment