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Memory Detectives: Integrating multiple elements in episodic memory

Series of experiments assessing formation of associative "episodic-like" representations across separate encoding trials (Horner & Burgess, 2013).

The experiments presented here stem from an adaptation of the paradigm for children, which seemed to remove the predicted effects in adults. The four versions here were created to address what the boundary conditions of the original paradigm might be.

  • CvO: Constrained vs. original trial timings. Participants each complete two experimental conditions, one with short encoding/retrieval trial times (3s), one with trial timings of previous experiments (6).
  • WvP: Words vs. pictures. Participants complete one of two experimental conditions, one using simultaneous spoken/written words, the other using cartoon images
  • all30: All 30 events. All participants complete single experimental condition, encoding all stimuli in spoken word and picture format.
  • words: Written word format. All participants complete single experimental condition, encoding all stimuli in written word format only. Note that this is the only version of the experiment to show predicted dependency effects.

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Memory Detectives (CvO)

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This version of the experiment presented stimuli using pictures and spoken words, and manipulated the trial timings (constrained = 3 s; original = 6 s).

There was no clear evidence of retrieval dependency, and so this experiment should not be used to measure holistic retrieval of event elements.

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Memory Detectives (WvP)

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This version of the experiment compared presentation formats: half of the participants complete the activities with picture stimuli only, the other half are presented with written and spoken words.

There was no clear evidence of retrieval dependency in the word condition, and so this version of the experiment should not be used to measure holistic retrieval of event elements. For the picture condition, it appeared that retrieval dependency is present but at a lower effect size than previous studies (d = .41). If used, a larger sample size may be required.

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Memory Detectives (all30)

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This version of the experiment presented stimuli using pictures and spoken words, and included 30 events per participant.

There was no clear evidence of retrieval dependency, and so this experiment should not be used to measure holistic retrieval of event elements.

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Memory Detectives (written words)

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Encoding and test tasks for measuring retrieval dependency from separately encoded event elements.

This version of the experiment is closest in format to previous studies (e.g., Horner & Burgess, 2014). It is the only version of the experiment to show clear evidence of retrieval dependency with ~20 participants.

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Encoding task

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Preview of the main encoding task. Note that slightly different adaptations were used for each experiment (provided above), but this provides a quick way of viewing the general set-up.

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Retrieval task

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Preview of the main retrieval task. Note that slightly different adaptations were used for each experiment (provided above), but this provides a quick way of viewing the general set-up.

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Conducted at University of York
Published on 17 February 2020
Corresponding author Dr Emma James Department of Psychology
University of York