MODULE CODE: HRPYC81
RESEARCH REPORT FOR PROJECT 4813
ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: 62
UNIQUE NUMBER: 660257
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF AGE ON SHORT TERM MEMORY
PERFROMANCE
STUDENT: BADAT. F
STUDENT NUMBER: 45685967
EXAMINATION PERIOD: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
1
,Table of Contents
Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
1) Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 2
2) Literature Review............................................................................................................................ 3
3) Method .............................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1) Sampling Process: .......................................................................................................................... 14
3.2) Data collection procedure: ................................................................................................................ 14
3.3) Ethics ............................................................................................................................................. 14
4) Analyses ................................................................................................................................................ 15
4.1) Procedure ...................................................................................................................................... 15
4.2) Results ............................................................................................................................................... 15
4.3) Tables and Graphs ......................................................................................................................... 18
5) Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 21
5.1) Strengths........................................................................................................................................ 23
5.2) Limitations ......................................................................................................................................... 23
5.3) Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 23
6) Reference List ................................................................................................................................... 24
Appendix ............................................................................................................................................... 26
2
, An Analysis of the Effects of Age on Short Term Memory Performance
Abstract
When dealing with the storage and manipulation of information we use memory. The literature
indicates that over the years many theoretical frameworks sought to identify and describe the
relevant human memory systems, and that with age, comes cognitive decline, cerebral atrophy
and subsequent decreased memory performance. This study formed part of a postgraduate
requirement in psychology, it looked at the relevant literature on the subject of human memory,
specifically the effects of age on short-term memory performance. Thereafter an experiment was
conducted to analyze whether the research holds true in a South African sample. A convenience
sample of thirty individuals were selected, from two age groups, 20-40 and 50-70 years of age,
respectively. Participants were asked to perform two memory tasks, a word-recall task and digit
task, testing short-term memory performance. Results were recorded regarding the number of
words correctly recalled and the longest digit correctly recalled. A t-test was used to compare the
means of the results of the two groups. The results showed a significant difference between the
two groups, in terms of word-recall, the younger group performed better than the older. Whilst
results showed no significant difference between the two groups, regarding the digit task. It was
concluded that memory is a complex subject and further research will be beneficial.
Key words: working memory, short-term memory, long-term memory, recall, aging, cognition
1
, 1) Introduction
Human memory is a fundamental pillar in our existence as human beings, contributing to our
everyday mental experience. An essential component of our mental processes and cognition,
memory is a mechanism that helps us make sense of the world around us. Linking what we
observe to our prior knowledge, perceiving our surroundings and being a part of our identities.
Through our memory we can draw information from past experiences as well as learn, store,
process and recall new information. Our capacity to respond to these demands depends on our
state of mind at the time, on our health, and to an extent on our age. Human memory has been
the subject of research for many years, in both science and psychology.
The topic of memory has been an important area in psychology. Studying cognition can provide
us with an understanding of the neural basis of memory, through this we can acknowledge the
influence it has on our development as individuals. The various models highlight the complexity
of memory systems. Studies on memory have led us to an understanding of the factors that
influence, enhance and even inhibit our memory performance. There is a common perception
that as we age, we should begin to experience a steady decline in our cognitive capacity and
memory ability. The link between memory and aging is an additional issue worth exploring, for
various reasons. Insight into age and memory can provide researchers and clinicians with the
knowledge to be able to distinguish between normal age-related changes and the warning signs
of mild to serious cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease. By accepting the natural
and normal age-related changes we can actively compensate for them. Understanding how
memory works can provide access to the development of adequate rehabilitation programs,
enabling the fostering of programs to help older adults adjust to normal age-related changes. The
knowledge gained by this study will help us to understand the current theoretical frameworks
surrounding memory and provide an explanation for the link between age and memory.
Research Problem: The reason for this research paper is to explore and investigate the current
state of literature surrounding the concept of memory, focusing on the link between age and
memory, and thereafter analyzing whether, or not, an experimental study based on a South
African sample will be consistent with the existing literature. This study forms part of the
requirements for a postgraduate psychology degree.
Research Objectives: To administer a suitable test to test the STM memory performance of two
groups of people, from two different age groups; one between the ages of 20 and 40, and the
other between the ages of 50 and 70. This project wishes to establish whether there is a
significant difference in the memory performance of the younger group of participants versus the
older group. Thereafter to analyze the results, and to see to whether the results are consistent
with the existing literature.
2
RESEARCH REPORT FOR PROJECT 4813
ASSIGNMENT NUMBER: 62
UNIQUE NUMBER: 660257
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTS OF AGE ON SHORT TERM MEMORY
PERFROMANCE
STUDENT: BADAT. F
STUDENT NUMBER: 45685967
EXAMINATION PERIOD: OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017
1
,Table of Contents
Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
1) Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 2
2) Literature Review............................................................................................................................ 3
3) Method .............................................................................................................................................. 14
3.1) Sampling Process: .......................................................................................................................... 14
3.2) Data collection procedure: ................................................................................................................ 14
3.3) Ethics ............................................................................................................................................. 14
4) Analyses ................................................................................................................................................ 15
4.1) Procedure ...................................................................................................................................... 15
4.2) Results ............................................................................................................................................... 15
4.3) Tables and Graphs ......................................................................................................................... 18
5) Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 21
5.1) Strengths........................................................................................................................................ 23
5.2) Limitations ......................................................................................................................................... 23
5.3) Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 23
6) Reference List ................................................................................................................................... 24
Appendix ............................................................................................................................................... 26
2
, An Analysis of the Effects of Age on Short Term Memory Performance
Abstract
When dealing with the storage and manipulation of information we use memory. The literature
indicates that over the years many theoretical frameworks sought to identify and describe the
relevant human memory systems, and that with age, comes cognitive decline, cerebral atrophy
and subsequent decreased memory performance. This study formed part of a postgraduate
requirement in psychology, it looked at the relevant literature on the subject of human memory,
specifically the effects of age on short-term memory performance. Thereafter an experiment was
conducted to analyze whether the research holds true in a South African sample. A convenience
sample of thirty individuals were selected, from two age groups, 20-40 and 50-70 years of age,
respectively. Participants were asked to perform two memory tasks, a word-recall task and digit
task, testing short-term memory performance. Results were recorded regarding the number of
words correctly recalled and the longest digit correctly recalled. A t-test was used to compare the
means of the results of the two groups. The results showed a significant difference between the
two groups, in terms of word-recall, the younger group performed better than the older. Whilst
results showed no significant difference between the two groups, regarding the digit task. It was
concluded that memory is a complex subject and further research will be beneficial.
Key words: working memory, short-term memory, long-term memory, recall, aging, cognition
1
, 1) Introduction
Human memory is a fundamental pillar in our existence as human beings, contributing to our
everyday mental experience. An essential component of our mental processes and cognition,
memory is a mechanism that helps us make sense of the world around us. Linking what we
observe to our prior knowledge, perceiving our surroundings and being a part of our identities.
Through our memory we can draw information from past experiences as well as learn, store,
process and recall new information. Our capacity to respond to these demands depends on our
state of mind at the time, on our health, and to an extent on our age. Human memory has been
the subject of research for many years, in both science and psychology.
The topic of memory has been an important area in psychology. Studying cognition can provide
us with an understanding of the neural basis of memory, through this we can acknowledge the
influence it has on our development as individuals. The various models highlight the complexity
of memory systems. Studies on memory have led us to an understanding of the factors that
influence, enhance and even inhibit our memory performance. There is a common perception
that as we age, we should begin to experience a steady decline in our cognitive capacity and
memory ability. The link between memory and aging is an additional issue worth exploring, for
various reasons. Insight into age and memory can provide researchers and clinicians with the
knowledge to be able to distinguish between normal age-related changes and the warning signs
of mild to serious cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease. By accepting the natural
and normal age-related changes we can actively compensate for them. Understanding how
memory works can provide access to the development of adequate rehabilitation programs,
enabling the fostering of programs to help older adults adjust to normal age-related changes. The
knowledge gained by this study will help us to understand the current theoretical frameworks
surrounding memory and provide an explanation for the link between age and memory.
Research Problem: The reason for this research paper is to explore and investigate the current
state of literature surrounding the concept of memory, focusing on the link between age and
memory, and thereafter analyzing whether, or not, an experimental study based on a South
African sample will be consistent with the existing literature. This study forms part of the
requirements for a postgraduate psychology degree.
Research Objectives: To administer a suitable test to test the STM memory performance of two
groups of people, from two different age groups; one between the ages of 20 and 40, and the
other between the ages of 50 and 70. This project wishes to establish whether there is a
significant difference in the memory performance of the younger group of participants versus the
older group. Thereafter to analyze the results, and to see to whether the results are consistent
with the existing literature.
2
