Why were nonsense syllables used in the earliest studies of forgetting?
A) so that the stimulus materials were simple enough that even children could read and remember them
B) so that cross-cultural comparisons of memory could be investigated using speakers of different languages
C) so that the material did not have preexisting associations in memory
D) to reduce retroactive interference

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Nonsense syllables were used in the earliest studies of forgetting to eliminate pre-existing associations in memory. This allowed researchers to explore the fundamental processes involved in forgetting without the interference of pre-existing knowledge or associations that would make it difficult to draw accurate conclusions.

Why Were Nonsense Syllables Used in the Earliest Studies of Forgetting