A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of - Queen Margaret University

3.6.2 Control issues
Preliminary studies one, two and four presented the wide spectrum of
performance by the normal population in their ability to learn and recall novel
information and indicated that a matched control population was not required for
the main investigation. The stimuli were proven to be novel and there was
confidence that participants had no memory trace of the stimuli, therefore
untrained control stimuli was not required.
3.6.3 Training procedure
Qualitative data encompassing the comments of participants from preliminary
studies one (see Appendix 3.3) and two (see Appendix 3.5) indicated that the
scenario of the earth being invaded was unnecessary and distracting for some
participants. The scenario was therefore eliminated from the main investigation
training procedure.
While a larger number of participants stated that they would prefer to listen to
details of the stimuli by tape recording during the training period, others
preferred the information to be given face-to-face. Further, some participants
responded positively to the recording and given more time would have liked the
opportunity to replay the details to aid their learning. To cater for all preferences
it was decided that the stimuli would be given in spoken form face-to-face and
the opportunity would also be given to listen to an audio recording of the details
during the participants’ ‘independent learning time’ (ILT) if they so chose.
While the performance of the high score participants in preliminary study one
suggested that mnemonic strategies were successful, preliminary study two
demonstrated that these strategies were not suited to everyone’s learning style.
It was therefore decided for the main investigation to introduce a short
discussion with participants prior to the training session. This involved the
description of various learning strategies used by preliminary study participants
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