Week 3

Schmidt & Williams 1,8,13
Schmidt, 1994, found that humorous sentences were recalled better than non-humorous sentences, but only under certain conditions. Describe these conditions. 
Schmidt found that when relevant mnemonic variables are controlled, conditions leading to a humor effect are clearly limited. Schmidt also found that humorous sentences were recalled better than non-humorous sentences in lists containing both sentence types. 

For each experiment, describe what you would have been asked to do?
For experiment 1: I would examine a picture for 15 seconds and then I would have a 15sec rating period where I would rate the humor of the cartoons and rate the difficulty level to understanding the humor. After the slide show, I would perform arithmetic for 5min. I would then be given 10min to recall the cartoons. Then unexpectedly I would have memory test I would write a brief description of each slide that I remembered and the caption.  

Given the results of experiment 1, the researchers conclude that .... how did they arrive at this conclusion?         
They found that memory effects in the analysis of weird/literal cartoons are more likely due to perception of humor rather than the resolution of incongruities. Also, the perception of humor was found to be more closely related to memory performance than is the putative resolution of cartoons that by definition do not contain incongruities. 

Furnham & Bradly 5,6, 12

What predictions do the researches make regarding the effects of background music on the cognitive performance of introverts and extroverts?
The hypothesis tested was that introverts and extroverts will perform equally well on tasks that are completed in silence; however in the presence of distracting music the introverts will not perform as well as the extroverts. 

What would you do?
I would first complete a pre-test questionnaire then be given a series of tasks to do one at a time that include; a memory test, reading comprehension, and treatment and control conditions 
One task would be done in silence and another while the radio is played in the background. After completing both tests, I would then complete a post-test questionnaire and be finished.


Were the experimental findings consistent with the reported behavior of extroverts and introverts in their daily lives? Explain? 
The experimental findings were consistent in showing that those who don't listen to music when studying found music distracting during the experiment.  Extroverts who usually study with the music on at home showed similar results during the experiments while introverts found the music to be more distracting and it adversely affected their performance most likely because they weren't used to it though that could change.