Lab Exercise with Quizzing

Lab Exercise 1: Partial Report Experiment 

This slide show demonstrates the partial report method developed by Sperling (1960) to examine the capacity of iconic memory. Watch the slide show and take the quiz.

Follow-Up Quiz 

1. People can remember the same percentage of the information presented in the whole report and partial report methods when recalling from sensory memory.

  1. True
  2. False

Ans: F

2. Using the partial report method, most people can recall about ______ of the information presented.

  1. 0%
  2. 25%
  3. 50%
  4. 75%

Ans: D

3. The reason that more information can be recalled using the partial report method than the whole report method is ______.

  1. the whole report is easier
  2. there is more information presented in the whole report method
  3. information fades too quickly from sensory memory to report all the stimuli presented
  4. all of these

Ans: C

 

Lab Exercise 2: Chunking Demonstration

This slide show demonstrates how many items STM holds, and how the capacity of STM can be extended.

Follow-Up Quiz

1. Which aspect of the words was used to “chunk” them in the demonstration?

  1. their meaning
  2. their sounds
  3. their length
  4. their shape

Ans: A

2. Chunking involves organizing information according to its meaning.

  1. True
  2. False

Ans: F

3. In the demonstration, chunking served to ______.

  1. increase the length of time you could remember the information.
  2. increase the number of themes you could remember.
  3. increase the number of words you could remember.
  4. none of these

Ans: C

 

Lab Exercise 3: Short Term Memory Experiment

Is it easier to remember words, pictures, or sounds? This experiment demonstrates how different types of information is retained in short term memory. So, let's say you're trying to remember a word; some think that you would repeat the word in order to memorize it.

You will begin with experiment 1 in which you will be shown 7 pictures of everyday objects. Try to remember all of the objects. Give yourself about 15 seconds, then click the “done” button. Write down as many as you can remember. Follow the directions for experiment 2 and 3.

Follow-Up Quiz

1. Which of the following is easiest to remember?

  1. words        
  2. sounds
  3. pictures
  4. smells

Ans: B

2. Short-term memory stores visual and acoustic information, but not semantic information.

  1. True
  2. False

Ans: F

3. Long-term memory deals mostly with ______ information, whereas short term memory mostly deals with ______ information.

  1. semantic, acoustic
  2. acoustic, semantic
  3. visual, acoustic
  4. semantic, visual

Ans: A

4. What kind of memory was this experiment testing?

  1. long-term memory
  2. short-term memory
  3. flash bulb memory
  4. declarative memory

Ans: B

 

Lab Exercise 4: n-Back Memory Test

The n-back task is a continuous performance task that is commonly used as an assessment in cognitive neuroscience. The visual n-back test is similar to the classic memory game of “Concentration.” However, instead of different items that are in a fixed location on the game board, there is only one item, that appears in different positions on the game board during each turn. “1-N” means that you must remember the position of the item, one turn back. “2-N” means that you must remember the position of the item two turns back, and so on.

The concept explored is, does attention play a role in successful performance?

Follow-Up Quiz

1. What representative cognitive assessment did you take?

  1. digital span task
  2. go/no-go task
  3. N-back task
  4. stroop task

Ans: C

2. What was the highest number of pictures to keep in mind?

  1. 7
  2. 8
  3. 9
  4. 10

Ans: C

3. Why is this task a test of working memory?

  1. The task functions well.
  2. You have to keep things in mind to answer.
  3. You cannot go on to the next trial without putting in work.
  4. It tests long term memory storage.

Ans: B