Question 57·Hard·Command of Evidence
Average Memory-Recall Performance of Students Who Studied a 30-Word List Either With or Without Background Music
| Performance measure | Music condition | Silence condition |
|---|---|---|
| correct words recalled (maximum 30) | 22.1 | 24.8 |
| recall time | 52.4 seconds | 44.7 seconds |
| intrusion errors (incorrect words) | 1.8 | 2.0 |
| self-reported concentration (1–7 scale) | 4.1 | 5.6 |
A cognitive psychologist hypothesized that background music would reduce students’ concentration, leading to lower recall accuracy and longer retrieval times compared to studying in silence.
Which choice best describes data from the table that support the psychologist’s hypothesis?
For a hypothesis-and-data question, translate the hypothesis into a checklist of directional predictions (e.g., “lower concentration,” “fewer correct words,” “longer time”). Then verify each prediction by comparing the relevant table entries across conditions. Finally, choose the option that matches every required comparison and eliminate choices that flip even one direction or mention only part of the predicted pattern.
Hints
Break the hypothesis into checkable claims
The hypothesis predicts three directions under music vs. silence: concentration should be lower, correct words recalled should be lower, and recall time should be longer.
Find the three relevant rows
Use the rows for self-reported concentration, correct words recalled, and recall time. Don’t start with intrusion errors unless an answer choice depends on them.
Track the direction for each measure
For each of the three rows, decide whether the music condition is lower or higher than the silence condition.
Pick the option with no mismatched detail
Choose the answer that gets all three comparisons correct. Eliminate any option that flips even one direction (for example, claiming faster recall time with music).
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the hypothesis’s predicted pattern
The hypothesis predicts that, compared to studying in silence, studying with background music will be associated with:
- Lower concentration
- Lower recall accuracy (fewer correct words recalled)
- Longer retrieval time (greater recall time)
So the best supporting choice should match all of those directions in the table.
Match each prediction to the correct table row
Link each part of the hypothesis to the table:
- Concentration → “self-reported concentration (1–7 scale)”
- Recall accuracy → “correct words recalled (maximum 30)”
- Retrieval time → “recall time”
Compare music vs. silence for those measures
From the table:
- Concentration: music 4.1 vs. silence 5.6 → lower with music
- Correct words recalled: music 22.1 vs. silence 24.8 → lower with music
- Recall time: music 52.4 vs. silence 44.7 → longer with music
Select the choice that matches the full pattern
Only one option states that the music group had lower concentration, fewer correct words recalled, and longer recall time than the silence group.
Therefore, the correct answer is: Participants who studied with music reported lower concentration, recalled fewer correct words, and took longer to recall them than those who studied in silence.