Question

Why did Hermann Ebbinghaus make up nonsense syllables for his memory studies? Select one: a. By using nonsense syllables comprised of the initials of his friends, he thought his memory performance would be improved. b. He really didn't have a specific reason for using nonsense syllables, but he thought it was a good idea. c. Because if he used real words, his prior experience with those words might influence his memory. d. Because he did not have copyright permission to use words in actual use, so he had to make up his own non-words.

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is C): Because if he used real words, his prior experience with those words that might influence his memory.

Explanation:

In order to assess how memory can be improved and enhanced, Hermann Ebbinghaus carried out experimental studies (research) by using nonsense syllables which had no logical meaning; he did so because he didn’t want his memory or experiments to be positively influenced by words that he or other people had known, or were familiar with prior to the time he conducted his studies.

Hermann Ebbinghaus knew that memory learning and enhancement would be easily affected by prior information, knowledge or understanding; so he decided to use unfamiliar knowledge, information, or words that couldn’t be easily recalled or memorized—he chose to use nonsense syllables. A nonsense syllable is one that has a combination of a consonant, a vowel, and another consonant. Usually, his syllables had no prior meaning.