Maria Johna Aggabao

Dec. 19, 2022

Memory
Week 05
A Study on Short-term Memory
Participants
● Participant 1: my 2nd child, 19 years old, male
● Participant 2: my 3rd child, 15 years old, male
● Participant 3: my 5th child, 10 years old, male
● Participant 4: my 6th child, 7 years old, female

Procedures
A list of 12 single digits is prepared for four participants to remember when each of these numbers

are read out loud. After saying these numbers out loud, the participants are asked to write down

all the numbers they heard according to their sequence. The purpose of the activity is to test how

many numbers these participants can remember. I gathered my four children since they were the

ones I can easily asked to participate in this activity. The data was recorded by counting the

correct numbers written until the first error committed.

There are 12 digits and are non-sequential. The participants were told to be quite and to stay

focused as they listened to the digits being enumerated. I told them that they have to listen

intently when the numbers are said out loud.

Results

The table depicts the digits each participant wrote prior to the 1 st error. Three of the four

participants did not reach Miller’s 5-9 range. Only one participant reached Miller’s 5-9 range.

Table 1
Digits recalled
Participant (P) Digit stream used Digits prior to 1st error Miller’s 5-9 range?

P1 6,1,8,3,7,5,9,2,3,8,1,6 6,1,8,3 No

1
P2 6,1,8,3,7,5,9,2,3,8,1,6 6,1 No

P3 6,1,8,3,7,5,9,2,3,8,1,6 6 No

P4 6,1,8,3,7,5,9,2,3,8,1,6 6,1,8,3,7 Yes

Discussion

The participants who did not reach Miller’s 5-9 range are all boys. They did not take the activity

seriously as there are many distractions at that time. It might also be the pressure of remembering

the numbers. The eldest of the participants tried memorizing everything by writing the last

numbers from the list first until he wrote the first number in the list last. His strategy did not work

as he had forgotten the first numbers he wrote on the list. The fourth participant was the very

attentive one and she was the only one who was able to reach Miller’s 5-9 range.

Implications

Firstly, if a person is distracted this affects his ability to remember or retain information. The

environment and the age of the participants affected the way they remember information. Gender

can also affect their responses. All the participants with NO results are all boys and regardless of

their ages, they seem to be easily distracted so easily. Secondly, rehearsal, repetition, and

memorization of the information can be continually-processed in short term memory. Participants

who are serious with the instructions are attentive and will remember more information in a short

period of time than those who are not fully focused.