Classroom Demonstration
of Experimental Method using
Levels of Processing Theory
Laura A. Powell and Jack Shelly-Tremblay
University of South Alabama, Department of Psychology
Levels of Processing Theory (LOP)

Craik and Lockhart (1972)
 depth
of processing
 Sensory
analysis (Structural)
 Pattern recognition (Phonemic)
 Stimulus elaboration (Semantic)
 Depth

of processing leads to increases in retention
Craik and Tulving (1975)
 Experiment
9: A Classroom Demonstration
PSY 320 Research Design and Analysis II


Writing Component Course
Four progressively longer APA manuscript papers
 Paper
1- Results section (Chi Square)
 Paper 2- Methods and Results sections (Correlation)
 Paper 3- LOP literature review
 Paper 4- full APA manuscript on LOP experiment

One Credit PSY 321 lab course attached
R
statistical program
LOP Demonstration

Informed Consent
 Intentional

learning- “take a short test”
Answer sheet instructions
 Structural Craik
upper vs. lower case
and Tulving, 1975
 Phonemic-
counting syllables
 Semantic- pleasant vs. unpleasant
 Hyde
and Jenkins, 1973
Answer Sheet Instructions

Structural Answer Sheet

You are about to see a list of 20 words. Your task is to determine
whether the word is written in uppercase or lowercase letters. Below
write U for uppercase and L for lower case. Please mark your
decision next to the appropriate number for each word. Look
carefully because each word will only be presented once. Do not
discuss this task with others until the task is complete.
You are about to see a list of 20 words. Your task is to determine whether the word is
written in uppercase or lowercase letters. Below write U for uppercase and L for lower
case. Please mark your decision next to the appropriate number for each word. Look
carefully because each word will only be presented once. Do not discuss this task with
others until the task is complete.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
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Answer Sheet Instructions

Structural Answer Sheet


Phonemic Answer Sheet


You are about to see a list of 20 words. Your task is to determine whether
the word is written in uppercase or lowercase letters. Below write U for
uppercase and L for lower case. Please mark your decision next to the
appropriate number for each word. Look carefully because each word will
only be presented once. Do not discuss this task with others until the task is
complete.
determine the number of syllables in each word as it is presented. For
example, if the first word has three syllables, write 3 in the first space.
Semantic Answer Sheet

rate each word as it is presented in terms of how pleasant the word is to
you. Below write U for unpleasant and P for pleasant.
Stimulus Words










problem
TOMORROW
enemy
MILK
religion
air
CHIEF
friend
journal
machine










winter
saturday
OCEAN
LIBERTY
WOUND
sister
HISTORY
MEDICINE
rest
bear
LOP Demonstration

Recall task
 Turn
your sheet over and write as many words as you
can remember.

Debriefing and Paper Assignments
 Paper
3- LOP literature review
 Analysis of data using “R” statistical program
One way ANOVA with post hoc tests if LOP is significant
 Two way ANOVA if you add other IVs

 Paper
4- full APA manuscript on LOP experiment
LOP Results
Spring 2013
• N = 30
• 19 Females and 11 Males
Post hoc comparisons
Structural – Phonemic
p = 0.085
Structural – Semantic
p < 0.001
Phonemic – Semantic
p = 0.054
LOP Results
Fall 2008-Spring 2013
• N = 737
Post hoc comparisons
Structural – Phonemic
p < 0.001
Structural – Semantic
p < 0.001
Phonemic – Semantic
p < 0.001
Gender Results
Spring 2011-2013
Gender
Total
Female
83
Male
50
Total
133
Gender Results
Spring 2011-2013
Levels of Processing
Gender
Structural
Phonemic
Semantic
Total
Female
28
26
29
83
Male
17
18
15
50
45
44
44
133
Total
LOP Results
Spring 2011-2013
Post hoc comparisons
Structural – Phonemic
p = 0.022
Structural – Semantic
p < 0.001
Phonemic – Semantic
p < 0.001
Interaction
Spring 2011-2013
Conclusions

Levels of Processing can be a successful demonstration
 the
experimental method
 one or two way ANOVA and post hoc tests
 Full APA manuscript

Encourage students to encode information at the
Semantic level
Limitations

PSY students may have some knowledge of Levels
of Processing
 PSY
120 - General Psychology
 PSY 416 - Cognition

Some PSY students may have encountered LOP
experiment in other classes
Contact Information

Laura Powell
 lpowell@southalabama.edu

Jack Shelly-Tremblay
 jstremblay@southalabama.edu