Final answer:
A schema is a mental construct that helps organize and process information efficiently. It has benefits in memory, such as facilitating encoding and retrieval, but can also lead to errors. Schemas in long-term memory govern the organization and retrieval of information. In Bartlett's War of the Ghost Study, participants' schemas influenced their recall of the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
A schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts. It is a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
The benefits of schemas to memory include helping to organize and process information, facilitating encoding and retrieval, and aiding in the formation of new memories. Schemas can also contribute to memory errors, such as biasing our perceptions and leading to false memories.
The types of errors that schemas can generate include misremembering details, distorting memories to fit the schema, and being resistant to updating or correcting inaccurate schema-based information.
The structure of the schema in long-term memory (LTM) governs the organization and retrieval of information. Schemas help in categorizing information, connecting related concepts, and filling in missing details based on existing knowledge.
In Bartlett's War of the Ghost Study, schemas played a role in how participants remembered the story. They used their cultural schemas to fill in missing details and make the story more coherent. However, this also led to distortions and inaccuracies in their recall, as their schemas influenced their interpretation and reconstruction of the story.