A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

Graph 3.2
Comparison of number of items learned by participants in Group B
from immediate recall (written) preliminary studies one and two
2 0
1 8
Number of items learnt
1 6
1 4
1 2
1 0
8
6
4
2
0
P re lim S tu d y 2
1
2
G ro u p B P a rtic ip a n ts
3
4
P re lim S tu d y 1
P re lim S tu d y 1 P re lim S tu d y 2
While some participants in Group B improved their performance using
mnemonic techniques this was not significantly different for the group as a
whole, suggesting that mnemonic type learning is suitable for some but not all
learners of new vocabulary. Qualitative data identified interference from the
items learned in preliminary study one for a number of participants, from both
the new word forms (for example, ‘wangor’, ‘futarg’, ‘yamtork’, ‘curvol’ and
‘zoodop’) and associative meanings (for example, ‘creates calm’ - four
participants and ‘hypnotises’). This suggests that the new vocabulary details
were still retained from preliminary study one and were activated when other
semantically related (i.e. new aliens) representations were introduced.
3.3.2.2 Delayed recall
After a minimum of six weeks following training all nine participants partook in
the assessment of the retention of the newly learned vocabulary.
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