EXPERIMENT NO.

MEASUREMENT OF MEMORY: SERIAL REPRODUCTION METHOD

PUROSE: To compare the efficacy of free recall and serial recall methods in memorization of
lists of non-sense syllables.
INTRODUCTION:
Memory:
Memory is the faculty of the brain by which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved when
needed. Memory is vital to experiences; it is the retention of information over time for the
purpose of influencing future action. If we could not remember past events, we could not learn or
develop language, relationships, or personal identity.
Memory is the capacity to encode, store and recall information, it is a mental process of
acquiring and retaining information for lateral review. Therefore, memory is a complex three
interrelated steps or stages:
1. Encoding: encoding is an active process of representing information and putting it in
nervous system.
2. Storage: information in memory must be kept there. It is the process of holding encoded
information in memory.
3. Retrieving: to use information we need to get it out again by the process of retrieval
(recalling information).
MEASUREMENT OF MEMORY
There are many techniques for measuring memory:
1. Relearning method
Relearning is a measure that assesses the amount of time saved when relearning previously
information. Relearning, also known as the savings method is a way of measuring retention by
measuring how much faster one relearns material that has been previously learned and then
forgotten. In the method of relearning, a subject is given a material to learn by trial and error
under controlled conditions in the laboratory. Her total number of trials and the total time taken
in learning is recorded in the table. After two or more days she is given the same material to
learn again. Total number of trials and time taken in relearning is recorded.
2. Recognition method
Recognition is a measure of memory in which a person needs only to identify items previously
learned, as on a multiple choice test. In the recognition method, a subject has shown a material
consisting of words or pictures. Then the equal number of additional material is mixed with the
original material and the subject is asked to recognize the original material.
3. Recall method
Recall is measure of memory in which the person must retrieve information learned earlier, as on
a fill in the blanks test. If after seeing, listening or reading any subject matter, a person reinstates
it as a ditto copy in a verbal or written form in the absence of that material, it is the recall. Recall
method is used to measure the retention of students in examination where the students have to
write down what they retain about the question. Psychologists measure retention of the subjects
scientifically in the laboratory under controlled conditions. It can be done either by free recall or
serial recall.
a. Free Recall: The method of free recall is an easy method of verbal learning. This method is
also known as simple reproduction method. In this method each item of a list of non-sense
syllables is shown to the learner one by one for 2 seconds in serial order. In this way the learner
is free to recall the items on the list without caring for the position or order of the words.
Correctness of the recall is important for the learner in the method of free recall.
b. Serial Recall: This method, to some extent, is similar to free recall method because in this
method too each item of the non-sense list is shown to the learner one by one in a similar
fashion. But the instructions for the recall of items are different. In free recall method, the
learner is instructed for the reproduce the items shown to him correctly, irrespective of their
order. Whereas, in serial recall method, a learner is supposed to recall the items correctly in
the sequence in which they were shown. So, in this method, the learner has to learn the
relative position of each item as well as the item itself. This method is also known as method
of serial reproduction. It is observed that the memory of the material learned through this
method is usually stronger than the method of free recall.
HYPOTHESIS:
Learning by Free Recall method would be easier than learning by Serial Recall method.
VARIABLES:
Independent variable: list of non-sense syllables
Dependent variable: response (reduction in errors and time)
APPARATUS/MATERIAL:
Two lists (A and B) of 10 non-sense syllables each, memory drums, stop watch, paper, pencil,
calculator and graph paper.
EXPERIMENTER’S DETAILS:
Age:
Gender:
Qualification:
SUBJECTS’ DETAILS:
Age:
Gender:
Qualification:
INSTRUCTIONS:
In this experiment, two conditions will be used, one for Free recall method and other for serial
recall method. In first condition, the subject would be told, “you will be shown few meaningless
items (list A) one by one, each item for 2 seconds through window of memory drum, try to
concentrate on the window of the memory drum so that you can see all items clearly”. After
showing all items, window will be closed and you will be asked to recall those words,
irrespective of order. After you will recall all items, a rest period of ten minutes will be given. In
second condition, another list (list B) of non-sense items would be given to the subject in the
same manner as previous one and after leaning the list, the subject would be asked to recall the
list in the same order as shown.
PROCEDURE:
After making all necessary arrangements and giving instructions to the subject, experiment was
started.
Condition I (Free recall): In condition one, the subject was shown list A of 10 non-sense
syllables through the memory drum. Each word was shown for two seconds to the subject and
the whole list was shown until subject learned all material by heart. After that, the subject was
asked to recall those items and during each recall trial, time taken to recall along with correctly
recalled items were noted. There was no condition of recalling items in the same order as shown
in the list A. The trials continued till the subject could correctly recall all the items in two
continuous trials. A 10 minutes rest was given to the subject.
Condition II (Serial Recall): In second condition, the subject was shown list B of 10 non-sense
syllables through the memory drum. Each word was shown for two seconds to the subject and
the whole list was shown until subject learned all material by heart. After that, the subject was
asked to recall those items and during each recall trial, time taken to recall along with correctly
recalled items were noted. The subject had to recall items in the same order as mentioned in list
B. The trials continued till the subject could correctly recall all the items in two continuous trials.
EXPERIMENTER’S REPORT: …………………

SUBJECTS’ REPORT: ………………………..

RESULT:
Result is presented in the form of tables. Table I shows results of condition I which was Free
recall method. It can be seen that the subject took 5 trials to correctly recall the whole list and
with practice time taken to recall and errors made have reduced table II shows results of
condition II which was serial recall method. It can be seen that the subject took more trials to
recall the list B through serial recall method. .
CONCLUSION:
It can be concluded from the result tables that the method of free recall is easier than the method
of serial recall as the subject took less time in recalling through free recall method.
REFERENCES:
Baldwin, T.T., & Ford, K.J. (1988). Transfer of training: A review and directions for
future research. Personnel Psychology, 41, 63-105.
Lahey, B. B. (2001), Psychology: An Introduction. (7 th edition). Mc Graw hills
corporation.
Schiffman, H. R. (1982). Sensation and Perception. New York, John Wiley and sons.
R Postman, L R, Egan, J. P (1992). Experimental Psychology; An introduction.
NewYork; Harper and Row publisher; Tokyo; John Weather Hill, Inc.
 CONDITION I: FREE RECALL METHOD

TABLE I: RECALL OF LIST A

Trials
Sr.N List of Nonsense
o Words Trial 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Trail 4 Trail 5

1 TEY

2 QIZ

3 REJ

4 XOK

5 PAF

6 DER

7 SUZ

8 GAQ

9 NIV

10 BUV
CORRECT
RESPONSES

ERRORS
TIME TAKEN (sec)
 CONDITION II: SERIAL RECALL METHOD

TABLE II: RECALL OF LIST B

Trials
List of Nonsense
Words Trial 1 Trail 2 Trail 3 Trail 4 Trail 5 Trail 6 Trial 7

1 TAQ

2 VEP

3 JID

4 XOP

5 MUR

6 LAF

7 GIJ

8 SHL

9 RUQ

10 COL
CORRECT
RESPONSES

ERRORS
TIME TAKEN
(sec)

TABLE III: COMPARISON OF CONDITION I AND II

Correct Time taken
Condition Trials responses Errors (sec)

I (FREE RECALL) 05
I
I (SERIAL RECALL) 07