This hypothesis is attempting to replicate the serial position curve. By doing this experiment, the serial position effect will occur, and that memory will improve over the three word lists.
Method.
Participants.
The participants in this experiment consisted of four males and four females. The mean age for the group was 33.6. All with normal motor skills. None of the participants indicated prior memory training.
Materials.
The materials used included one word list containing three word lists of fourteen words each, included as appendix A. Also eight response sheets, included as appendix B. Both supplied by the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand.
Procedure.
The experiment consisted of three trials, each trial consisting of a set of fourteen words, given in the appendix, to be remembered and recalled by the participants.
The participants were asked to participate in a study described as remembering and recalling three lists of fourteen words. The experimenter gave the first participant a response sheet. Appendix B, and read the following to the participants:.
This is a test to see how well you can remember lists of words. I will read a list of 14 words to you. You should listen carefully to the list and, when I say the word "go", you should write down as many words as you can remember. You must, however, get the words written down in their correct order. That is, the first word must be written in the blank beside number 1 and the last word must be in the blank beside number 14. You may write down the words down in any order you wish; for example, you may write down the last words on the list first. Do you have any questions?.
No further questions were asked.
List one was read to the participants by the experimenter at a rate of one word every second. Participants then recalled as many words as they could remember and wrote them down on the response sheet. This procedure was repeated for list two and list three.