Why did Ebbinghaus consider it important to use nonsense syllables in his memory experiments?
A) He did not think that CVCs would be difficult to learn.
B) He wanted to reduce the likelihood that linguistic associations could be formed among the stimuli.
C) He wanted to minimize savings in learning stimulus lists for the second time.
D) He was studying retroactive interference.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ebbinghaus used nonsense syllables to ensure that the material was new and unfamiliar to the participants, thereby reducing the influence of prior knowledge or associations on memory performance. This approach aimed to isolate the process of memorization from other cognitive processes, such as the use of linguistic or semantic cues.

Why Did Ebbinghaus Consider It Important to Use Nonsense Syllables