1 Working memory training Working memory training is where people repeatedly practise increasingly difficult working memory tasks to attempt to improve their cognitive performance - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 1 - 2019 - Paper 3

The number of words correctly recognised (out of 20) is an interval/ratio level of measurement.

1. A laboratory experiment allows for high internal validity due to controlled variables, reducing the risk of extraneous factors affecting the results. This ensures that any observed changes in memory performance are likely due to the working memory training.

2. The study has standardized procedures, as all participants received the same instructions and tasks, which enhances the reliability of the findings.

1. Participants in the working memory training group showed a decrease in performance, with an average of 10.7 words recognised at the end compared to 13.3 at the beginning, suggesting that the training may not have improved memory recognition as hypothesised.

2. In contrast, the control group showed an increase in performance, recognising an average of 12.1 words compared to 11.9 at the beginning, indicating that the lack of training did not hinder their memory recognition as initially expected.

A histogram should be drawn with the frequency of participants on the y-axis and the number of words recognised on the x-axis, clearly labeling the bins as follows: 0-5, 6-10, 11-15, and 16-20 words.

The histogram displays a positive skew, as the majority of participants recognised between 6 and 10 words, with a notable drop-off in the frequency of those recognising fewer and more words. This suggests that most participants performed moderately well but fewer reached high recognition levels.