HRPYC81
Research report for PROJECT 4813
Assignment 62
A CRITICAL STUDY ON MEMORY DECLINE AND AGEING IN SOUTH AFRICA: DOES
AGEING CAUSE SHORT-TERM MEMORY TO DECLINE
Naude, M
56381271
October/November 2020
,HRPYC81 Assignment 62 Oct 2020
Contents
Abstract................................................................................................................................. 3
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4
1.1. Introduction to memory concepts ............................................................................... 4
1.2. Abnormal memory decline ......................................................................................... 5
1.3. Lewy bodies dementia ........................................................................................... 5
1.4. Alzheimer’s Disease .............................................................................................. 5
2. Literature review ............................................................................................................ 7
3. Methodology .................................................................................................................. 9
3.1. Aim of the research study .......................................................................................... 9
3.2. Possible outcome ...................................................................................................... 9
3.3. Participants............................................................................................................ 9
3.4. Sampling ............................................................................................................. 10
3.5. Ethical considerations.............................................................................................. 10
3.6. Materials.................................................................................................................. 11
3.7. Research design ..................................................................................................... 11
3.8. Data collection ......................................................................................................... 11
4. Data Analysis ............................................................................................................... 13
4.1. Analysis of correct word recalls ........................................................................... 14
4.2. Analysis of false word recalls ............................................................................... 15
4.3. Analysis of correct number recalls ....................................................................... 16
4.4. Evaluating memory techniques such as Primacy & Chunking .............................. 17
4.5. Summary of results .............................................................................................. 19
5. Hidden variables and possible limitations ..................................................................... 20
6. Reliability and factors affecting reliability ...................................................................... 20
7. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 21
List of references ................................................................................................................ 23
Addendum A ....................................................................................................................... 25
Addendum B ....................................................................................................................... 30
Plagiarism ........................................................................................................................... 32
Monique Naudé 56381271
2
,HRPYC81 Assignment 62 Oct 2020
A CRITICAL STUDY ON MEMORY DECLINE AND AGEING IN SOUTH AFRICA: DOES
AGEING EFFECT MEMORY
Abstract
This research study will focus on age and memory, specifically short-term memory. Growing
older increases the likelihood of memory declining. The research study will attempt to
determine if short term memory declines with the process of ageing. The relative frequency
approach and quantitative research method will be used to determine if ageing influences
short-term memory by generating numerical data into usable statistics. The research study
will take place online because of the global pandemic covid-19 caused and the restrictions we
as country are currently facing and will thus include male and female participants from all over
South Africa. Participants will be divided into two age groups (20-40 years old and 50-70 years
old) by using the stratified sampling technique and individuals will be chosen at random from
these sub-groups. Participants will take part in the research study by means of internet
correspondence and interviews via zoom. The test will consist of a questionnaire and a
memory test that is divided into two sections. Each section of the memory test will test different
types of recalls. The results will be gathered and processed to provide a visual representation
of the correlation between age and memory and if ageing does have any influence on the
short-term memory of individuals. Previous research on the effects of age on memory show a
diminished ability to access short term information and suggests an increase in short-term
memory degradation. By using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, the
expectation was to find a negative linear relationship (r = -1) between the two variables and
suspect that short-term memory does decline with age. The findings suggest that there is a
significant difference between the mean values of correct word recalls between the two
groups. Comparing the false recall between the two age-groups indicated that there is no
significant difference between the mean values of false word recalls between the two groups.
There is no significant difference between the mean values of correct number recalls between
the two groups.
Key words: memory decline, aging, short term memory, recall, correlation
Monique Naudé 56381271
3
, HRPYC81 Assignment 62 Oct 2020
1. Introduction
Ageing has been linked to memory decline and neural changes due to the deterioration of
grey matter in the brain and cause changes in neural activations. Grey matter contains the
brain’s neuronal cell bodies and incudes the region of the brain involved in memory, hearing
and sensory perception (Mercadante & Tadi, 2019). Medical problems occur when plagues
start to build up in areas of grey matter in the brain. These plagues take up space that was
once grey matter and as amyloid beta continues to build up, the patient loses memory, also
known as Alzheimer’s disease. The above-mentioned is an abnormal decline in memory that
is associated with memory decline.
The aim of this study is to determine if short term memory declines in healthy older adults.
The study applied a short term memory task that includes two types of stimuli namely words
and numbers will be carried out where participants will be split into age groups of 20-40-year
olds in group 1 and 50-70-year olds in group 2. Participants will be asked to listen to the words
and numbers and recall them by using free recall when remembering the words and serial
recall when remembering the numbers. It is hypothesized that there will be a decline in the
short-term memory of group 2 in comparison with group 1.
1.1. Introduction to memory concepts
Memory is fundamental to almost every cognitive skill; it is involved in complex processes like
problem solving and simple processes like recognizing a familiar face. Memory is so complex
that it does not have one system but a variety of systems that work in different parts of the
brain. We have a short-term memory and a long-term memory. STM is also known as the
working memory and only lasts approximately 20 to 30 seconds and stores a small amount of
information for a short time then discard the information or transfer it to the long-term memory.
LTM has a larger storage capacity than STM and can keep information for a longer period. It
is where language, sensory information and our spatial relation information is stored, to help
us move around our world. LTM is divided into explicit (episodic and semantic) and implicit
memories. Episodic memory is associated with time and place and semantic which is facts
about the world not always having context about the facts. LTM is also responsible for storing
information we do not consciously retrieve (implicit memory) but use every day and includes
declarative and procedural memory. Declarative memory is the facts and events we retrieve
often consciously, and procedural memory is information that have an impact on our
behaviour, but is it not consciously retrieved (Jonides, Wager, & Badre, Neuroimaging Studies
of Memory, pp. 6 - 10).
STM is distinctively different to LTM and uses different parts of the brain. This is based on the
evidence from behavioural interference studies, neuropsychological studies and neuroimaging
studies (Jonides , et al., 2008, pp. 2-3). A study was done on patients that suffered a brain
injury and they showed deficits in STM but not LTM and vice versa and studies like this has
led to the assumption that STM and LTM are two different systems. Patients who had damage
to their parietal and temporal lobe showed impaired ST phonological capabilities but their LTM
was still working normally. Patients who has medial temporal lobe damage show deficits in
LTM (Jonides , et al., 2008, p. 3).
There are three cognitive components of memory and is believed to store information by
encoding information, storing the information, and retrieving the information. Encoding is when
you convert sensory data into the form of a mental image. The encoded information is then
stored for some time. Retrieval is when information is pulled out of stored memory. The
Monique Naudé 56381271
4
Research report for PROJECT 4813
Assignment 62
A CRITICAL STUDY ON MEMORY DECLINE AND AGEING IN SOUTH AFRICA: DOES
AGEING CAUSE SHORT-TERM MEMORY TO DECLINE
Naude, M
56381271
October/November 2020
,HRPYC81 Assignment 62 Oct 2020
Contents
Abstract................................................................................................................................. 3
1. Introduction .................................................................................................................... 4
1.1. Introduction to memory concepts ............................................................................... 4
1.2. Abnormal memory decline ......................................................................................... 5
1.3. Lewy bodies dementia ........................................................................................... 5
1.4. Alzheimer’s Disease .............................................................................................. 5
2. Literature review ............................................................................................................ 7
3. Methodology .................................................................................................................. 9
3.1. Aim of the research study .......................................................................................... 9
3.2. Possible outcome ...................................................................................................... 9
3.3. Participants............................................................................................................ 9
3.4. Sampling ............................................................................................................. 10
3.5. Ethical considerations.............................................................................................. 10
3.6. Materials.................................................................................................................. 11
3.7. Research design ..................................................................................................... 11
3.8. Data collection ......................................................................................................... 11
4. Data Analysis ............................................................................................................... 13
4.1. Analysis of correct word recalls ........................................................................... 14
4.2. Analysis of false word recalls ............................................................................... 15
4.3. Analysis of correct number recalls ....................................................................... 16
4.4. Evaluating memory techniques such as Primacy & Chunking .............................. 17
4.5. Summary of results .............................................................................................. 19
5. Hidden variables and possible limitations ..................................................................... 20
6. Reliability and factors affecting reliability ...................................................................... 20
7. Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 21
List of references ................................................................................................................ 23
Addendum A ....................................................................................................................... 25
Addendum B ....................................................................................................................... 30
Plagiarism ........................................................................................................................... 32
Monique Naudé 56381271
2
,HRPYC81 Assignment 62 Oct 2020
A CRITICAL STUDY ON MEMORY DECLINE AND AGEING IN SOUTH AFRICA: DOES
AGEING EFFECT MEMORY
Abstract
This research study will focus on age and memory, specifically short-term memory. Growing
older increases the likelihood of memory declining. The research study will attempt to
determine if short term memory declines with the process of ageing. The relative frequency
approach and quantitative research method will be used to determine if ageing influences
short-term memory by generating numerical data into usable statistics. The research study
will take place online because of the global pandemic covid-19 caused and the restrictions we
as country are currently facing and will thus include male and female participants from all over
South Africa. Participants will be divided into two age groups (20-40 years old and 50-70 years
old) by using the stratified sampling technique and individuals will be chosen at random from
these sub-groups. Participants will take part in the research study by means of internet
correspondence and interviews via zoom. The test will consist of a questionnaire and a
memory test that is divided into two sections. Each section of the memory test will test different
types of recalls. The results will be gathered and processed to provide a visual representation
of the correlation between age and memory and if ageing does have any influence on the
short-term memory of individuals. Previous research on the effects of age on memory show a
diminished ability to access short term information and suggests an increase in short-term
memory degradation. By using the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, the
expectation was to find a negative linear relationship (r = -1) between the two variables and
suspect that short-term memory does decline with age. The findings suggest that there is a
significant difference between the mean values of correct word recalls between the two
groups. Comparing the false recall between the two age-groups indicated that there is no
significant difference between the mean values of false word recalls between the two groups.
There is no significant difference between the mean values of correct number recalls between
the two groups.
Key words: memory decline, aging, short term memory, recall, correlation
Monique Naudé 56381271
3
, HRPYC81 Assignment 62 Oct 2020
1. Introduction
Ageing has been linked to memory decline and neural changes due to the deterioration of
grey matter in the brain and cause changes in neural activations. Grey matter contains the
brain’s neuronal cell bodies and incudes the region of the brain involved in memory, hearing
and sensory perception (Mercadante & Tadi, 2019). Medical problems occur when plagues
start to build up in areas of grey matter in the brain. These plagues take up space that was
once grey matter and as amyloid beta continues to build up, the patient loses memory, also
known as Alzheimer’s disease. The above-mentioned is an abnormal decline in memory that
is associated with memory decline.
The aim of this study is to determine if short term memory declines in healthy older adults.
The study applied a short term memory task that includes two types of stimuli namely words
and numbers will be carried out where participants will be split into age groups of 20-40-year
olds in group 1 and 50-70-year olds in group 2. Participants will be asked to listen to the words
and numbers and recall them by using free recall when remembering the words and serial
recall when remembering the numbers. It is hypothesized that there will be a decline in the
short-term memory of group 2 in comparison with group 1.
1.1. Introduction to memory concepts
Memory is fundamental to almost every cognitive skill; it is involved in complex processes like
problem solving and simple processes like recognizing a familiar face. Memory is so complex
that it does not have one system but a variety of systems that work in different parts of the
brain. We have a short-term memory and a long-term memory. STM is also known as the
working memory and only lasts approximately 20 to 30 seconds and stores a small amount of
information for a short time then discard the information or transfer it to the long-term memory.
LTM has a larger storage capacity than STM and can keep information for a longer period. It
is where language, sensory information and our spatial relation information is stored, to help
us move around our world. LTM is divided into explicit (episodic and semantic) and implicit
memories. Episodic memory is associated with time and place and semantic which is facts
about the world not always having context about the facts. LTM is also responsible for storing
information we do not consciously retrieve (implicit memory) but use every day and includes
declarative and procedural memory. Declarative memory is the facts and events we retrieve
often consciously, and procedural memory is information that have an impact on our
behaviour, but is it not consciously retrieved (Jonides, Wager, & Badre, Neuroimaging Studies
of Memory, pp. 6 - 10).
STM is distinctively different to LTM and uses different parts of the brain. This is based on the
evidence from behavioural interference studies, neuropsychological studies and neuroimaging
studies (Jonides , et al., 2008, pp. 2-3). A study was done on patients that suffered a brain
injury and they showed deficits in STM but not LTM and vice versa and studies like this has
led to the assumption that STM and LTM are two different systems. Patients who had damage
to their parietal and temporal lobe showed impaired ST phonological capabilities but their LTM
was still working normally. Patients who has medial temporal lobe damage show deficits in
LTM (Jonides , et al., 2008, p. 3).
There are three cognitive components of memory and is believed to store information by
encoding information, storing the information, and retrieving the information. Encoding is when
you convert sensory data into the form of a mental image. The encoded information is then
stored for some time. Retrieval is when information is pulled out of stored memory. The
Monique Naudé 56381271
4
