One of the main reasons psychologists sometimes use nonsense syllables, rather than real words in studies of memory, is that
A) nonsense syllables are unlikely to be associated with someone's existing knowledge.
B) real words are not likely to elicit the type of recall psychologists are interested in.
C) nonsense syllables are more likely than real words to elicit recall of short-term memories.
D) nonsense syllables tap into the processes associated with sensory memory more effectively.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nonsense syllables are used because they are unlikely to be associated with someone's existing knowledge, which helps to control for the influence of prior knowledge on memory recall. Using real words may elicit recognition rather than recall or may be influenced by the meaning associated with the word.

One of the Main Reasons Psychologists Sometimes Use Nonsense Syllables