Question

Suppose we used trigrams like "JOE" or "CAT" or "WXY" or "RIT" rather than the type used in the demonstration. Describe what the relationship between percent correct recall and number of seconds of distractor task might be compared to the one that Brown and Peterson obtained. Use terms like "meaning," "pronounceability" and "predictable pattern" to help in your description (i.e., what do these factors add to one’s ability to remember material?).

Answer 1

Brown–Peterson task refers to a cognitive exercise that was developed for testing the limits of working memory capacity.

Using trigrams like "JOE" or "CAT" in this cognitive exercise will be easier to remember because of their "meaning," and "pronounce-ability".

The relationship between percent correct recall and number of seconds of distractor task would increase.

Their trigrams (and the ones used in the demonstration) were a more random arrangement of letters. These factors add to one’s ability to remember material because the words used will not be difficult to remember as they are universal words.