In a memory experiment, participants are asked to learn a list of words and then are tested on the list and the number of words they recall is recorded. In total, participants will be learning three word lists. Each of the word lists is of equivalent difficulty, the
First list contains proper nouns, the second list contains breeds of dogs, and the third is a list of kitchen appliances. After working with 20 participants, the researchers notice that these participants are better at recalling the proper nouns, the first list of the three that they learn. How can the researchers be certain that proper nouns are actually easier to
Recall and that they are not recalled better because they are the first words the participants learn?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Counterbalancing the order of the word lists helps control for order effects, ensuring that any differences in recall are due to the type of words rather than the order in which they are presented.

In a Memory Experiment, Participants Are Asked to Learn a List