False memories and false judgement of frequency in a visual word-only DRM-paradigm

Abstract: Björklund & Sandström (2012) reported a false memory for the frequency in which words have appeared using a Deese-Roediger-McDermott paradigm (Deese, 1959; Roediger & McDermott, 1995). The purpose of this study is to recreate the false frequency test by Björklund & Sandström using a visual word-only condition. 31 Swedish speaking students from Umeå University were asked to study slideshows presenting words one by one with a 3 second interval, some words repeating more than once. Afterwards the participants were asked to complete a recognition-questionnaire as well as estimate the amount of times a word has appeared. The results show a false memory effect as well as a false frequency effect when removing the correct rejections of critical lures. The participants estimated the critical lures to appear more than once. The results can be understood using dual-process theories - Activation/Monitoring theory and Fuzzy-trace theory.