Talya, a psychology major, just conducted a survey for class where she asked students about their opinions regarding evolution. When Talya thinks back on this experience, which of the following statements is accurate?
A) Talya will be using her episodic memory only.
B) Talya will be using her semantic memory only.
C) Talya's ability to recall the factual details about the survey illustrates episodic memory, while her recollections of talking with the students illustrate semantic memory.
D) Talya's ability to recall the factual details about the survey illustrates semantic memory, while her recollections of talking with the students illustrate episodic memory.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Episodic memory is the ability to remember specific events from one's personal experience, while semantic memory is the general knowledge about the world. Talya's ability to recall the factual details about the survey (such as the questions she asked and the number of participants) relates to her semantic memory. On the other hand, her recollections of talking with the students and their opinions on evolution are specific events from her personal experience, which highlights her episodic memory. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Talya, a Psychology Major, Just Conducted a Survey for Class