Why did Hermann Ebbinghaus make up nonsense syllables for his memory studies?
A) By using nonsense syllables comprised of the initials of his friends,he thought his memory performance would be improved.
B) He really didn't have a specific reason for using nonsense syllables,but he thought it was a good idea.
C) Because if he used real words,his prior experience with those words might influence his memory.
D) Because he did not have copyright permission to use words in actual use,so he had to make up his own non-words.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hermann Ebbinghaus wanted to study pure memory without any influence from prior knowledge or associations with real words. By using nonsense syllables, he ensured that participants did not have any prior experience or associations with these stimuli, allowing him to study the fundamental processes of memory.

Why Did Hermann Ebbinghaus Make Up Nonsense Syllables for His