Laney et Al - Cognitive Approach of Psychology

Laney et al. (False
memory)
Experiment 1
IV - whether participant had the false belief that they had enjoyed asparagus as a
child embedded during the second part of the experiment
Love condition- ------------------- 46
Control condition- ------------------ 51


DV - measured through 5 questionnaires
1. Food History Inventory
2. Restaurant Questionnaire
3. Food Preferences Questionnaire
4. Food Costs Questionnaire
5. Memory or Belief Questionnaire


AIM - to investigate whether giving false feedback suggesting that a participant had
loved asparagus as a child, would generate a false memory of experiences linked to
eating and enjoying asparagus


RESEARCH METHOD - Laboratory experiment

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN- independent measures group

, SAMPLE - opportunity sampling
● 128 participants
● Undergraduate students at University of California
● 99 females
● 29 males
● Mean age- 20.8 years


PROCEDURE
➢ In groups of up to 8
➢ Study of ‘food preferences and personality’ (necessary deception)

Week 1
● All treated identically
● FHI & RQ
● 3 other distractor questionnaires


Week 2
● Randomly allocated to ‘love asparagus’ or control condition
● Told that the info was processed and it generated a profile of childhood experiences
● They saw statements in the profile
● The critical item ‘you loved to eat cooked asparagus’ was embedded in 3rd position
(love condition)
● Only 3 filler items for control group
● Asked questions to make sure they had processed the feedback properly
● FHI and RQ
● FPQ, FCQ and MBQ
● Fully debriefed