Short-term Memory and Independent Variable
Digit Span
Carry out the activity at the MyPsychLab website and then answer the following questions:
1. In part one and two of this experiment, what was the independent variable?
The independent variable in the first part of this experiment was the method of presentation ,single digits in part 1 or grouped numbers in part 2.
2. In part three and four, what was the independent variable? The independent variable in the second part is type of stimuli .Binary numbers in part 3 or letters in par 4.
3. In these experiments, what was the dependent variable? The dependent variable is the number of digits that you can remember in correct order (memory span).
4. What were YOUR results for parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 (4)
a. Part 1: Digits presented singly: correctly recalled digit sequences 7-numbers long. b. Part 2: Digits presented in groups of three: correctly recalled digit sequences 9-numbers long.
c. Part 3: Binary digits (zeros and ones) presented singly: correctly recalled digit sequences 7-numbers long. d. Part 4: Letters presented singly: correctly recalled digit sequences 7-numbers long.
5. Did you find your memory span increased or decreased depending upon the stimulus type? Explain (1) Yes, binary, random numbers and random letters (all of them singly) did not increase memory span but numbers in groups of 3 did because we used “chunking” to remember them therefore increasing our memory span.
6. Do your results support or not support Miller’s statement that the magical number in working memory is 7 +- 2? (1)
7. How can “chunking” be used to remember a 10-digit phone number? (1) Chunking which means breaking long items into smaller, manageable chunks or pieces - you can expand your mind's natural 7-item limit. If you enfold multiple, individual items into a single, larger item (chunk), you'll free extra slots in your short-term memory. For example if you have to remember a
Carry out the activity at the MyPsychLab website and then answer the following questions:
1. In part one and two of this experiment, what was the independent variable?
The independent variable in the first part of this experiment was the method of presentation ,single digits in part 1 or grouped numbers in part 2.
2. In part three and four, what was the independent variable? The independent variable in the second part is type of stimuli .Binary numbers in part 3 or letters in par 4.
3. In these experiments, what was the dependent variable? The dependent variable is the number of digits that you can remember in correct order (memory span).
4. What were YOUR results for parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 (4)
a. Part 1: Digits presented singly: correctly recalled digit sequences 7-numbers long. b. Part 2: Digits presented in groups of three: correctly recalled digit sequences 9-numbers long.
c. Part 3: Binary digits (zeros and ones) presented singly: correctly recalled digit sequences 7-numbers long. d. Part 4: Letters presented singly: correctly recalled digit sequences 7-numbers long.
5. Did you find your memory span increased or decreased depending upon the stimulus type? Explain (1) Yes, binary, random numbers and random letters (all of them singly) did not increase memory span but numbers in groups of 3 did because we used “chunking” to remember them therefore increasing our memory span.
6. Do your results support or not support Miller’s statement that the magical number in working memory is 7 +- 2? (1)
7. How can “chunking” be used to remember a 10-digit phone number? (1) Chunking which means breaking long items into smaller, manageable chunks or pieces - you can expand your mind's natural 7-item limit. If you enfold multiple, individual items into a single, larger item (chunk), you'll free extra slots in your short-term memory. For example if you have to remember a