Experimental Research Report – Introduction and Methods section. Psychology Spacing Effect

The goal of our Experimental Research Project is to investigate the effect that spaced presentations during studying has on later memory for the materials that were studied. This includes an investigation of the influence of lag length on later memory. We will be testing participants in three different conditions. In the Massed Study (or No Lag) condition. Participants will study a list of words for 10 minutes, then wait 30 minutes, then take a memory test. In the Spaced Study w/ Short Lag condition, participants will study a list of words for 5 minutes, wait for a lag of 5 minutes, then study the same list of words for 5 minutes, then wait 30 minutes, then take a memory test.

Further Description

In the Spaced Study w/ Long Lag condition, participants will study a list of words for 5 minutes. Wait for a lag of 10 minutes, then study the same list of words for 5 minutes, then wait 30 minutes, then take a memory test.Given your background reading on the spacing effect, for each of these conditions you should be able to identify the retention interval, and lag length for each condition. If you cannot do so, please review the assigned readings. In addition to actually conducting the study, you will be preparing a written research report that includes introduction and methods sections. Think about the role of the introduction, as defined in your textbook.

You will be crafting an introduction that sets up the experimental conditions discussed above and will also motivate the predictions you make about memory performance in the different conditions.  When writing the method section, use #XX or XY in place of participant numbers when introducing the subject/participant variables.  For example – Rather than saying there were 72 participants, replace 72 with xx. Also, make sure the method is in the past tense.

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