Suitable studies to investigate psychological theories and models
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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). . Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour, 13, 585-589.
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). Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 11, 717-726.
Levels of Processing Theory
Craik, F. I. M. & Tulving, E. (1975). . Journal of Experimental Psychology, 104(3), 268-294.
Mueller, P.A. & Oppenheimer, D.M. (2014). Psychological Science 25 (6), 1159-1168
Oppenheimer, D.M., Diemand Yauman, C. & Vaughan, E.B.(2011), . Cognition 118 (1), 111-115
Working Memory Model
Baddeley et al. (1973) Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behaviour 14, 575-589.
Multi-Store Memory Model
OTHER COGNITIVE THEORIES
Dual Processing Model of Thinking and Decision-making
Note: Any cognitive bias or heuristic or Halo Effect all come under this theory
Interference Theory
Note: Speed of Processing Theory or Automaticity Theory may also be used.
Peterson, L.R. & Peterson, M.J. (1959) Journal of Experimental Psychology, 58, 193-198.
Kahneman, D. & Tversky, A. (1974). Science, 185, 1124-1131.
Strack, T. & Mussweiler, F.(2000): . Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 36 (5), 495-518
Stroop, J. Ridley. (1935). . Journal of Experimental Psychology, 18, 643-662