A researcher is testing whether a later advert can change autobiographical memory. Participants rated their confidence, from 0 to 10, that they had taken part in a particular childhood event. One advert suggested that participants had taken part in a practical activity at their primary school, although the activity was introduced at their schools only after they had left. The other advert was factual. The mean confidence ratings were as follows:
| Condition | Mean rating before the advert | Mean rating after the advert |
|---|---|---|
| Suggested childhood event | 1.3 | 4.8 |
| Factual advert | 1.4 | 2.2 |
Explain why the suggested-childhood-event condition was included and use the data to explain what conclusion the researcher could draw.
84 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Psychology 5.2 Theories/Explanations, covering 5.2.1 Multi-store Model structure, 5.2.2 Differences between memory stores; criticisms, 5.2.3 Multi-store Model research study: Wilson et al. (2008), 5.2.4 Reconstructive memory: schemas, experience and expectation, 5.2.5 Reconstructive memory: confabulation and leading questions; criticisms, and 5.2.6 Reconstructive Memory research study: Braun, Ellis and Loftus (2002). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.