Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · Psychology

    Course version: 1PS0 · Version from Sept 2017

    Topic 2: Memory - 2.2 Studies: *2.2.1 Bartlett (1932) War of the Ghosts

    Bartlett (1932) investigated how cultural schemas influence memory using the Native American folk tale War of the Ghosts.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1PS0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 1 of 2
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Bartlett (1932) investigated how cultural schemas influence memory using the Native American folk tale War of the Ghosts. He asked British participants to read the story and recall it after varying intervals through serial and repeated reproduction. Participants altered the story to fit their cultural expectations, a process called rationalisation (e.g. canoes became boats). The story also became shorter through omission. This demonstrated that memory is an active, reconstructive process. A strength of the study is its use of a meaningful story, offering higher ecological validity than nonsense syllables. However, a weakness is the lack of standardised instructions and strict controls, making it less scientific and harder to replicate.

    What earns the marks

    • Identify the aim: to investigate how memory is reconstructed when recalling an unfamiliar story.
    • Describe the procedure: participants read the story and recalled it using serial and repeated reproduction.
    • State the findings: participants shortened the story and rationalised unfamiliar details to fit their own culture.
    • Explain the conclusion: memory is reconstructive and influenced by cultural schemas.
    • Evaluate the study: a strength is the use of a meaningful task (high ecological validity); a weakness is the lack of standardised procedures.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Believing participants intentionally changed the story.

      Put it right: Participants unconsciously altered the story as their schemas automatically filled in gaps or changed unfamiliar details.

    • Confusing serial and repeated reproduction.

      Put it right: Serial reproduction involves passing the story from person to person, whereas repeated reproduction involves the same person recalling it multiple times.

    • Stating the study proves memory is like a video recorder.

      Put it right: The study concludes the exact opposite, showing memory is an active, reconstructive process prone to distortion.

    Exam tips

    • Be prepared to identify examples of rationalisation, such as changing unfamiliar cultural terms to familiar ones, in multiple-choice questions.
    • Remember that Bartlett used British participants and a Native American story, which created the cultural mismatch necessary for the study.
    • Link the findings directly to reconstructive memory and evaluate the study's lack of strict controls.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Topic 2: Memory - 2.2 Studies: *2.2.1 Bartlett (1932) War of the Ghosts lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    What was the main aim of Bartlett's (1932) 'War of the Ghosts' study?

    Listen

    Bartlett (1932) investigated how cultural schemas influence memory using the Native American folk tale War of the Ghosts. He asked British participants to read the story and recall it after varying intervals through serial and repeated reproduction. Participants altered the story to fit their cultural expectations, a process called rationalisation (e.g. canoes became boats). The story also became shorter through omission. This demonstrated that memory is an active, reconstructive process. A strength of the study is its use of a meaningful story, offering higher ecological validity than nonsense syllables. However, a weakness is the lack of standardised instructions and strict controls, making it less scientific and harder to replicate. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the aim: to investigate how memory is reconstructed when recalling an unfamiliar story. Describe the procedure: participants read the story and recalled it using serial and repeated reproduction. State the findings: participants shortened the story and rationalised unfamiliar details to fit their own culture. Explain the conclusion: memory is reconstructive and influenced by cultural schemas. A common slip: Believing participants intentionally changed the story. Instead, Participants unconsciously altered the story as their schemas automatically filled in gaps or changed unfamiliar details. Exam tip: Be prepared to identify examples of rationalisation, such as changing unfamiliar cultural terms to familiar ones, in multiple-choice questions.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. The first box says British participants read War of the Ghosts and points to a box saying recall after varying intervals. That box splits into two boxes: serial reproduction and repeated reproduction. Both of these point to a box saying rationalisation: unfamiliar details changed to fit cultural expectations. That box points to a box saying omission: story becomes shorter, which points to a final box saying memory is an active, reconstructive process.
    It shows how Bartlett's participants recalled the story through serial and repeated reproduction, altering it by rationalisation and omission, leading to the conclusion that memory is reconstructive.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Reconstructive memory

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Schemas

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Cultural influence

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Research evaluation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Reconstructive memory
    The conclusion that memory is an active process, shown because participants altered the story to fit their cultural expectations.
    Schemas
    Cultural expectations that influence memory, as participants altered the story to fit their own culture.
    Cultural influence
    The effect of participants' own culture on recall, shown by rationalisation of unfamiliar details to fit their culture.
    Research evaluation
    A strength is the meaningful story giving higher ecological validity than nonsense syllables; a weakness is the lack of standardised instructions and strict controls.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. The first box says British participants read War of the Ghosts and points to a box saying recall after varying intervals. That box splits into two boxes: serial reproduction and repeated reproduction. Both of these point to a box saying rationalisation: unfamiliar details changed to fit cultural expectations. That box points to a box saying omission: story becomes shorter, which points to a final box saying memory is an active, reconstructive process.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

    There is more to this lesson

    The full lesson goes on to check your understanding and help you earn the marks. Create a free account to carry on, with your progress saved.

    Carry on with the full lesson

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    Test your understanding of Topic 2: Memory - 2.2 Studies: *2.2.1 Bartlett (1932) War of the Ghosts

    Active recall beats re-reading. Take an instant quiz now to test what you’ve learned and lock it into long-term memory.

    Take topic quiz

    A week of Premium from your first lesson · Then the free plan continues · No card, no charge

    Start free

    Cookies on MasteryMind

    Essential cookies keep you signed in.

    Analytics and advertising cookies stay off unless you accept.

    Read our Privacy Policy.