Question

A psychology class performed an experiment to compare whether a recall score in which instructions to form images of 25 words were given is better than an initial recall score for which no imagery instructions were given. Twenty students participated in the experiment with the following results: $$ \begin{array}{ccc|ccc} & \text { With } & \text { Without } & & \text { With } & \text { Without } \\\ \text { Student } & \text { Imagery } & \text { Imagery } & \text { Student } & \text { Imagery } & \text { Imagery } \\ \hline 1 & 20 & 5 & 11 & 17 & 8 \\ 2 & 24 & 9 & 12 & 20 & 16 \\ 3 & 20 & 5 & 13 & 20 & 10 \\ 4 & 18 & 9 & 14 & 16 & 12 \\ 5 & 22 & 6 & 15 & 24 & 7 \\ 6 & 19 & 11 & 16 & 22 & 9 \\ 7 & 20 & 8 & 17 & 25 & 21 \\ 8 & 19 & 11 & 18 & 21 & 14 \\ 9 & 17 & 7 & 19 & 19 & 12 \\ 10 & 21 & 9 & 20 & 23 & 13 \end{array} $$ Does it appear that the average recall score is higher when imagery is used?

Short answer

Answer: Yes, the average recall score appears to be higher when imagery is used, as the mean with imagery (20.5) is higher than the mean without imagery (9.85).

Step-by-step solution

Calculate the mean scores with and without imagery

First, let's add up the scores with and without imagery and divide the sum by the number of students (20) to find the mean scores. With Imagery: (20+24+20+18+22+19+20+19+17+21+17+20+20+16+24+22+25+21+19+23)/20 = 410 Without Imagery: (5+9+5+9+6+11+8+11+7+9+8+16+10+12+7+9+21+14+12+13)/20 = 197 Now, divide these sums by the total number of students to find the mean scores: Mean With Imagery: 410/20 = 20.5 Mean Without Imagery: 197/20 = 9.85

Compare the mean scores

Next, compare the mean scores to determine if the average recall score is higher when imagery is used. We have: Mean With Imagery: 20.5 Mean Without Imagery: 9.85 Since the mean with imagery (20.5) is higher than the mean without imagery (9.85), it appears that the average recall score is higher when imagery is used.

Key concepts

Mean Comparison

When comparing mean scores, we aim to understand whether one group performs better than another based on the numerical averages. This involves statistical analysis to determine significant differences in group performance. In a psychological experiment, such as the one conducted by a psychology class, the students' recall scores were analyzed both with and without imagery instructions.

- **Mean With Imagery**: This value derived from summing all scores from the imagery group and then dividing by the number of students. The calculated mean was 20.5.
- **Mean Without Imagery**: Similarly, this mean was calculated from scores without imagery, resulting in 9.85.

By comparing these mean values, it provides insight into whether imagery instructions have a statistically meaningful impact on recall ability. In this case, the higher mean with imagery indicates a likely benefit of the imagery technique.

Psychology Experiment

Experiments in psychology are designed to understand how various factors influence behavior and cognition. This specific psychology experiment involved 20 students and aimed to determine the effect of imagery instructions on memory recall.

- **Experimental Group**: Students who received imagery instructions to form mental images of words they needed to remember.
- **Control Group**: Students who did not receive any imagery instructions.

Through controlled experiments, researchers can observe the influence of specific conditions—in this case, the use of mental imagery—on recall scores. The study structure helps isolate the effect of the variable being tested, making it clear whether the intervention has an impact.

Recall Score

Recall scores measure the ability to retrieve information from memory, crucial in studies examining memory processes. In the experiment, each student had a recall score for both conditions: with and without imagery.

- **Scoring Method**: Students were given 25 words to remember and their ability to recall these was scored. The scores listed in the exercise show how well each participant performed in both conditions.
- **Comparison**: Once scored, the arithmetic mean of scores provides a way to compare the effectiveness of imagery instructions on recall ability.

Thus, the recall score serves as a quantitative measure of memory performance, essential for comparing different educational or cognitive techniques.

Imagery Instructions

Imagery instructions are a cognitive tool used to enhance memory. The idea behind giving students instructions to use imagery is based on research suggesting that forming mental images can improve recall. Here's how it works in the context of the experiment:

- **Visualization**: Students are told to mentally picture each word as vividly as possible. This might involve imagining the word interacting with other objects or experiences.
- **Effectiveness**: According to the results, this method significantly increased recall scores compared to when no such instructions were given.

By incorporating imagery instructions, participants are encouraged to engage multiple senses and regions of the brain, potentially leading to better memory retention.