What is the purpose of a distractor task in short-term memory studies?
A) to keep people from actively rehearsing information
B) to draw attention to the task at hand
C) to increase the amount of information people keep in short-term memory
D) to distract people from the purpose of the study and reduce expectancy effects

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The purpose of a distractor task is to prevent participants from actively rehearsing or repeating information in their short-term memory, as this could artificially inflate their ability to remember the information. By temporarily distracting their attention, researchers can better assess the true capacity of short-term memory.

What Is the Purpose of a Distractor Task in Short-Term