Mnemonics Experiment Research Report

Mnemonics Experiment Research Report
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Abstract
The purpose of this research report is to determine whether the memory enhancing techniques (mnemonics) are effective in improving academic and behavioral performance of learners. Under the literature review the paper examines the main techniques that have been developed over the past. The paper further brings out in detail the two main techniques that used in mnemonics realm, which are the Loci and peg-word method. The Loci technique is associated with images that are tied to certain locations and therefore meaning. The Peg-word technique is a variant of the Loci methods as it ties meaning with images and therefore memories. Under the methodology, only one participant took part in the study. The research design involved a parallel examination of the two techniques, under the procedure of filling out a form after memorizing a list of names and testing the two techniques on memory retrieval. In the results, the score under Loci technique was 9.33, Peg-word technique was at 8, while the Rote learning technique scored an average of 5.33. in the discussion and conclusion, the Loci technique proved to have the best impact on memory retention and retrieval, the Rote learning came in second with an average of eight while the peg-word technique in this cased proved to be the least effective. One of the major limitation in the study, was the fact that, only one participant took part in the study, creating a loophole for bias. In future, it is recommended that more than one participants should be used in the study to ensure minimal bias.
MNEMONICS EXPERIMENT RESEARCH REPORT
Experimental studies done on human memory have clearly indicated that the human mind has a limited capacity for information storage, it has a reconstructive nature and it deteriorates with time. Further it is discovered that the ability of recalling or retrieving the information stored in the mind is dependent on the means or the strategies applied in gaining or accessing that information (Bower, 1970). This knowledge in the recent human history is being used in practical recalling information especially with the learning students in the context of eye witness.
There have been numerous techniques developed by various researchers in the efforts to demonstrate the effectiveness of their techniques in learning institutions (Bower, 1970). Some of the techniques applied in helping the students remember information include note taking, comprehension enhanced through reading instructions, knowledge organization and last but not least is memory techniques known as Mnemonics (Scruggs & Mastropieri, 2000). Though most of the mentioned techniques are excellent in helping student with academic performance it is evident through various studies that mnemonic instruction is the best technique that can be applied effectively to improve memory. There two salient characteristics with behavioral and learning challenges in students and they are identified as memory and learning. Many students who have difficulties in recalling academic data and content often fail in academic tests and eventually lead to the denied access to school curriculum (Scruggs & Mastropieri, 2000). In the recent human learning history there have been studies in the application of the memory enhancing methods with students’ populations who face academic struggle. It is evident that these strategies have been effective in improving students’ memory especially with specific content.
Therefore, the purpose of this research paper is to help determine whether the mnemonic techniques are effective in students learning behaviors (Bower, 1970). Two mnemonic techniques were examined that is Loci method and the peg-word method.
Mnemonics is simply the memory aids that help an individual in remembering a particular piece of information with the use of a strategy, technique or a process assisting one to improve on their memory capacity (Scruggs & Mastropieri, 2000). They comprise of cues in the mind that makes it easy to retrieve information. This is achievable through the association of similar or dissimilar information referred to as mental cue with the information that one ought to remember. The application of mnemonics is traced way back in the ancient Greece prior written word invention. In this age, memory was taken as paper where ideas and thoughts that were to be communicated were recorded (In Harris & In Meltzer, 2015).
Loci technique is one of the oldest methods of mnemonics also referred to as the method of places or locations (Bower, 1970). This method involves creation of images that would associate with the item that one would wish to remember with a familiar location in a route well travelled. When you want to remember certain information you mentally travel the pathway picking the items as needed (Scruggs & Mastropieri, 2000). Simonides, a Greek poet is said to have originated with this method when he was able to identify bodies of guests in a banquet after the house collapsed crushing the guests beyond recognition. This is simply because Simonides had related with the guests and would remember each one and where they were sited at the table. He would associate the names with the physical location in his mind.
Peg-word is a variant to the Loci method. In this technique the information that is to be remembered is connected to a list of rhyming words. Here learners use images that they visualize the item to be remembered. This is linked to a rhyming sequence of words to the item or information that is to be remembered. For example if a student needs to remember Washington they can be shown or requested to create a mental picture of the president with a bun in his hands. When it calls for the student to recall the name of the first president they see the picture of the president thus making it easy to recall the name Washington (In Harris & In Meltzer, 2015).
In this experiment two methods were tried that is Loci and Peg-word techniques in relation to the normal learning technique simple repletion of words (Swanson, Harris, & Graham, 2013). This is in efforts to compare the results of the mnemonics techniques in improving students’ memory. The independent variables of the experiment were the mnemonics techniques namely Loci method and peg-word method. I used lists of ten words each for every variable. This was to test and determine the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The dependent variables were measured by the experiment and the relationship was that the mnemonics altered the results of the experiment. I would take each method at a time against the free study. Each time I would use a list of ten words (Bower, 1970). After I finished with one method I would take the next method against the free study which was the control of the experiment. I would first use the free study to memorize the ten words then I would take the test trying to recall the items in the list memorized (Scruggs & Mastropieri, 2000). A score would be given as per how many words that I was able to remember. The order in which they followed also was a key issue in the test. After this I would again take the other list with the mnemonic technique. The same procedure was followed in the experiment and test results.
The experiment is purely to determine the effectiveness of the mnemonic techniques in improving the capacity of the students’ memory and learning behavioral. The results of the experiment were expected to prove the point that use of mnemonics in learning helps learners improve their memory capacity.
Method
Participants
I am the lone participant of this experiment. I am a student in the university. I have successfully completed eighth-grade and with interest in sciences. Since I was the lone participant in this experiment I had to familiarize myself with the two mnemonic techniques and one control condition. I tend to portray only a single ethnicity and a definite gender. Therefore there was no much to consider in terms of participants. The research is therefore on the American culture of a student the early adulthood.
Research design
The research and the experiment were designed in that I was able to attend to all the questions and techniques. I had loci and peg-word learning techniques to consider. Against these was the free study as the control condition. There were other factors that were likely to affect the results of the experiment namely gender, ethnic background, education level, and age. These however were held constant since the participant was common in all the three variables. The study involved Loci which uses the association of items along a particular path that is familiar with the learner and retrieving them by walking the mental route when the informa...