Suitable studies to investigate psychological theories and models
The IA in IB Psychology provides you with the opportunity to investigate a psychology theory or model of human behaviour. As well as researching and writing about a particular theory or model, you are required to undertake an exploration of this theory or model by collaborating with other students to conduct a simple replication of a published study.
Your first task is to decide on the theory or model to investigate. Then you need to decide on a suitable study to replicate,
The hyperlinks below are all of the original experiments, which saves you a lot of time. The original studies can be hard to read, so focus on the abstract, the introduction, the results and the discussion.
Researchers often include several experiments or trials in the one report. You need to focus on just one experiment. In deciding whether a study is suitable for your investigation of a theory or model, ensure that you will manipulate one independent variable that has two conditions, that your experiment will produce two sets of ordinal, interval or ratio data and that you will be able to depict your results in a simple bar graph.
MEMORY THEORIES
Reconstructive Memory
Loftus, E.C. & Palmer, J. (1974). Reconstruction of Automobile Destruction: An Example of the Interaction between Language and Memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour, 13, 585-589. https://www.demenzemedicinagenerale.net/images/mens-sana/AutomobileDestruction.pdf
Note: Schema theory is also relevant here and is an alternative choice for a background theory
Schema Theory
Bransford, J.D. & Johnson, M. K. (1972). Contextual prerequisites for understanding: Some investigations of comprehension and recall. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11, 717-726. http://www.cogsci.ucsd.edu/~coulson/203/bransford72.pdf
Levels of Processing Theory
Craik, F. I. M. & Tulving, E. (1975). Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 104(3), 268-294. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232487566_Depth_of_Processing_and_the_Retention_of_Words_in_Episodic_Memory#fullTextFileContent
Mueller, P.A. & Oppenheimer, D.M. (2014). The pen is mightier than the keyboard. Advantages of longhand over laptop note-taking. Psychological Science 25 (6), 1159-1168 http://psych.colorado.edu/~colunga/P4145-Fall17/w2.2c-Mueller+Oppenheimer2014.pdf
Oppenheimer, D.M., Diemand Yauman, C. & Vaughan, E.B.(2011), Fortune Favors the Bold and the Italicized: Effects of Disfluency on Educational Outcomes. Cognition 118 (1), 111-115 https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/myl/FortuneFavorsTheBold.pdf
Working Memory Model
Baddeley et al. (1973) Word Length and the Structure of Short-Term Memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour 14, 575-589. https://labs.la.utexas.edu/gilden/files/2016/03/1-s2.0-S0022537175800454-main.pdf
Multi-Store Memory Model
Peterson, L.R. & Peterson, M.J. (1959) Short-term retention of individual verbal items. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 58, 193-198. https://labs.la.utexas.edu/gilden/files/2016/03/1545ca4cdad4f480f2fab8fd505a5b7f7603.pdf
OTHER COGNITIVE THEORIES
Dual Processing Model of Thinking and Decision-making
Kahneman, D. & Tversky, A. (1974). Judgment under uncertainty. Heuristics and biases. Science, 185, 1124-1131. https://www2.psych.ubc.ca/~schaller/Psyc590Readings/TverskyKahneman1974.pdf
Strack, T. & Mussweiler, F.(2000): Numeric judgements under uncertainty: The role of knowledge in anchoring. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 36 (5), 495-518
Note: Any cognitive bias or heuristic or Halo Effect all come under this theory
Interference Theory
Stroop, J. Ridley. (1935). Studies of interference in serial verbal reactions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, 643-662 http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Stroop/
Note: Speed of Processing Theory or Automaticity Theory may also be used.
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