Volu m e I - Purdue University Calumet

Leasa Androl, Stephanie Krist, Cory Stroik
Saginaw Valley State University
Schematic and Bizarreness Effects in Mental Imagery: Current Investigation of
4 vs. 6 Component Scenes and Future Research with Visual Stimulation
Abstract
This study is an extension of previous research on Bizarreness and Schematic Effects. The current study
focused on four versus six component sentences. A component is defined as either a verb or noun in one of
four categories: agents, items, actions, or locations. One of the goals of this study is to determine whether
the actual number of components within a sentence has an effect on the recall of that sentence. Participants
were asked to read a short series of scenes, form images of those scenes, and then rate them based on their
strangeness. Recall was operationalized from hand written responses. Based on previous research, we
predict that four-component sentences that are bizarre will have the highest amount of recall; normal
sentences are currently under study (bizarre sentences will follow). Future research will also compare
imagery to perception. Imagery is a construal process in which one constructs an image from a meaning. In
perception, a stimulus is provided and the participant must give meaning to it. We will show pictures or
animations created from our previous research. We will then measure recall of the different levels to
compare and contrast how the bizarreness and schematic effects may or may not occur in perceptual
processes versus imagery processes. We further plan to investigate how closely participants’ perceptions of
our animations match the original scene descriptions.
INTRODUCTION
This study is a continuation of previous research performed in the psychology labs of Saginaw Valley State
University under the supervision of Matthew Margres. The previous research provided evidence that there
exists a significant difference in the recall of normal and bizarre scenes when such stimuli are mixed.
Continuing research sets out to discover the specific factors that can have an effect on recall such as male
and female typical scene vs. agents, the number of components per sentence, and likelihood of that scene’s
occurrence. The most recent study researches the recall for 4 vs. 6 component scenes that are normal single
schema and normal multiple schema. The next round of research will explore the same for bizarre scenes.
To do this we will utilize a computer program that will present the sentences and a distracter task. Then
there will be time allotted for hand written recall of the sentences. We predict that subjects will recall
more from the 4 component sentences than the 6 component sentences.
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