Topic 8: Perception - 8.2 Studies — Edexcel GCSE Psychology
Test yourself on Topic 8: Perception - 8.2 Studies with PEARSON EDEXCEL GCSE practice questions.
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Topic 8: Perception - 8.2 Studies explained
This study investigated whether language affects how we remember and reproduce visually perceived forms.
Read the full explanation
Participants were shown ambiguous line drawings (e.g., two circles connected by a line) alongside one of two different verbal labels (e.g., "eyeglasses" or "dumbbells"). A control group saw the drawings without labels. When asked to reproduce the drawings from memory, participants' sketches were significantly distorted to resemble the verbal label they had been given. This demonstrated that memory is reconstructive and heavily influenced by language and prior knowledge, supporting the idea that perception and memory are not just passive recordings but active processes shaped by cognitive schemas.
Your focus
- Describe the aim, procedure, and findings of Carmichael, Hogan and Walter's (1932) study.
- Explain how the findings support the theory of reconstructive memory.
- Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the experimental method used in the study.
Topic 8: Perception - 8.2 Studies exam tips
Marking Points
- Identify the aim: to see if verbal labels affect the reproduction of visual forms.
- Describe the procedure: participants were shown ambiguous figures with one of two word lists, or no words for the control group.
- State the findings: drawings were distorted to match the verbal label provided.
- Explain the conclusion: memory is reconstructive and influenced by language and schemas.
Examiner Tips
- 💡Memorise specific examples of the ambiguous figures and their two labels, such as the "eyeglasses" versus "dumbbells" example.
- 💡Be prepared to link the findings of this study to the broader concept of reconstructive memory and schemas.
- 💡When evaluating the study, consider its artificial nature (low ecological validity) as participants were asked to remember abstract line drawings.
Common Mistakes
- Mistake: Thinking the study investigated how well participants could draw. Correction: The study investigated how verbal labels influenced memory reconstruction, not drawing ability.
- Mistake: Confusing the control group with the experimental groups. Correction: The control group received no verbal labels, whereas the experimental groups received one of two different lists of labels.
- Mistake: Believing participants copied the drawings while looking at them. Correction: Participants reproduced the drawings from memory after they had been removed from sight.