Question

Participants are able to recall, on average, 35 objects (e.g., a pencil, a computer, a desk, a chair, a coffee cup, a calendar, etc.) participants often incorrectly remember seeing objects that are typically found in offices, even

A. though these objects were not in the photograph that participants viewed.
B. while participants may initially falsely recall schema-consistent items that were not present in the office photo, these memory errors tend to decrease over time. (in other words, participants' memory accuracy improves over time).
C. participants' memory is most accurate when they avoid looking at the pictures, and just rely on their intuition.
D. all of the above

Answer 1

Memory is reconstructive and susceptible to errors, such as recalling items that align with schema expectations even when they are absent from the original stimulus. Over time, these memory errors often self-correct, an example of the plasticity of memory. The use of mnemonic devices and rehearsal are among the strategies to improve memory retention and accuracy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject in question deals with memory accuracy and the concepts related to recall, false memories, and the schemas affecting memory retention and reconstruction. This topic is rooted in the psychological sciences, particularly in the study of human cognition and memory.

Memory is a complex cognitive function that involves various processes such as encoding, storage, and retrieval. When attempting to remember objects in a photograph, study participants may succumb to schema-influenced errors. Schemas are mental structures that help us organize and interpret information. They can lead to the inclusion of false memories, where individuals recall items consistent with the schema of an office even if those items were not present in the original image. As time passes, these memory inaccuracies tend to correct themselves, and memory performance may improve—an example of memory plasticity and self-correction over time.

In George Miller's research, the average short-term memory span was cited as 7 ± 2 items (Miller, 1956), and more recent findings suggest a smaller capacity of 4 ± 1 items (Cowan, 2010). Moreover, memory errors can occur due to multiple factors including misattribution, misinformation effect, and proactive or retroactive interference, as discussed by Schacter (2001). Techniques such as mnemonic devices, rehearsal, and self-referencing can aid in enhancing memory and its accuracy.

False memory is a notable phenomenon where individuals recall an event that did not occur, illustrative of the fact that memory is reconstructive and not a perfect record. Thus, the idea that participants' memory would be most accurate by avoiding the viewing of pictures and relying on intuition (answer choice C) runs counter to empirical evidence and is incorrect.