Remember This Experiment

Trial 1: Rote Memorization

The experiment was conducted using rote memorization. Rote memory is based on repetition. The technique is based on the idea of quickly recalling material the more it's repeated.

I was to take 5 minutes to learn 10 randomly generated word pairings using rote memorization, I then had to produce the “Response” word when given the “Prompt.” When I was done, I had to try not to think about the word pairings for 1 minute, and then test my recall. These were the word pairings:

Prompt	Response
Plant	Limb
Conscience	Fork
Mole	Fair
Translation	Interview
Glance	Gardener
Attainment	Torch
Mess	Recruitment
Award	Care
Trophy	Relation
Car	Window

 The was my memory recall after 1 minute:

Prompt	Response
Mess	Recruitment
Conscience	Fork
Glance	Gardner
Translation	Interview
Car	Window
Plant	Limb
Attainment	Torch
Award
Mole	Fair
Trophy	Relation

 I was then to wait 24 hours before trying again. Below are the results after waiting 24 hours:

Prompt	Response
Award
Conscience
Mole	Fair
Glance	Gardner
Attainment
Car	Window
Translation	Interview
Mess
Plant	Limb
Trophy

Trial 2: Edemic Memorization

I was to take 5 minutes to learn 10 randomly generated word pairings using eidetic memorization. Eidetic memorization is recalling information in detail after brief exposure.I had to come up with a vivid mental picture that associates the two words.

Prompt	Response
Sentence	Fixture
Dancer	Lease
Particle	Balance
South	Aids
Schedule	Entertainment
Game	Tantrum
Shoulder	Principal
Shopping	Catch
Phone	Drift
Cliff	Mind

 The was my memory recall after 1 minute:

Prompt	Response
Shoulder	Principal
Sentence	Fixture
Shopping	Catch
South	Aids
Dancer	Lease
Particle	Balance
Game	Tantrum
Cliff	Mind
Phone	Drift
Schedule	Entertainment

 I was then to wait 24 hours before trying again. Below are the results after waiting 24 hours:

Prompt	Response
Shoulder	Principal
Sentence	Fixture
Shopping
South	Aids
Dancer	Lease
Particle	Balance
Game	Tantrum
Cliff	Mind
Phone
Schedule	Entertainment

 

Experiment Data

Results recorded using the chart below.

Memorization technique	Rote	Eidetic
Correct number of words after 1 minute	9	10
Correct number of words after 24 hours	5	8

Memory is the process in which information is encoded, stored and retrieved. Eidetic memorization is the process of using images, or objects to remember. Implicit memory is a type of long term memory that does not need conscious thought and the memory is not usually easy to verbalize, and there are influences that allow the recall of things . Encoding is perceived or related to past knowledge. Information is then stored and maintained for a period of time. Retrieving is accessing the information when needed.

Rote memorization is the simple repetition where there is no relationship of a mental concept. The technique is based on the idea of quickly recalling material the more it's repeated. Explicit memory uses conscious thought to recall things using experiences to help remember.

This experiment used explicit memory with semantic memory as the sub type. Both experiments used short and long term memory. Short term memory allows a person to record limited information for a short period of time. Long term memory is not necessarily from something that happened a long time ago, but rather a few minutes after memorization.

I believe the techniques were different in that one had you simply look at word pairing and memorize them. The second technique allowed for a visualization in order to remember the word pairing. I found that using the second technique made it easier to remember, even after a 24 hour time period. The results were consistent with the current theories.

Works Cited:

"How to Remember Anything: Lessons from a Memory Champion." How to Remember Anything: Lessons from a Memory Champion. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2015.

.., and Saylor Ur. "Remembering and Judging." Introducing Psychology(n.d.): n. pag. Web.