The probable reason that Ebbinghaus's forgetting curves were so steep was that Ebbinghaus
A)had a poor memory.
B)learned too many lists.
C)used meaningless materials.
D)used autobiographical materials.

Question

The probable reason that Ebbinghaus's forgetting curves were so steep was that Ebbinghaus ​
A)had a poor memory.
B)learned too many lists. ​
C)used meaningless materials. ​
D)used autobiographical materials. ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ebbinghaus's forgetting curves were steep primarily because he used meaningless materials (nonsense syllables) for his memory experiments, which are harder to remember and thus forgotten more quickly than meaningful material.

The Probable Reason That Ebbinghaus's Forgetting Curves Were So Steep