A theatre tests three versions of an advert for its annual membership. Different groups of similar adults see one version. One week later, without seeing or hearing the advert again, they are asked to recall the name of the membership.
| Version | Separate pieces of information | Sound used | Number of presentations | Percentage recalling the membership name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L | 4 | Same three-note sound each time | 2 | 54% |
| M | 4 | No recurring sound | 6 | 69% |
| N | 12 | No recurring sound | 6 | 38% |
The theatre plans another test with new, comparable groups. This time, the three-note sound used in version L will be played during the recall test.
Using your knowledge of how advertising affects memory, explain why version M produced a higher recall score than version L, why version N produced a lower recall score than version M, and which of versions L or M is likely to show the greater increase in recall when the three-note sound is played during the new test.
27 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Psychology 5.3 Application: Techniques used for recall, covering 5.3.1 Cues, repetition and advertising and 5.3.2 Neuropsychology for measuring memory. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.