Constructing a Narrative as a Means of Achieving Understanding

Freed, Kristen

Degree: Masters in Psychology, Marietta College, Psychology, 2006.
Abstract: The present study examined the effectiveness of constructing a narrative as a means of achieving understanding by comparing the performance of participants given two different types of writing assignments in the context of an introductory psychology class. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three writing conditions: define a set of classical conditioning terms, define a set of operant conditioning terms, or explain a set of classical conditioning terms in your own words. Participants then read their assignments aloud to a researcher. The change in score from a pre-test to a post-test was used to measure the impact of the experimental condition on participants' subsequent understanding and retention of material related to classical conditioning. The prediction that participants in the explain classical condition would show a greater understanding of classical conditioning, due to the construction of a narrative, was partially supported. In conclusion, the construction of a narrative may, to some extent, facilitate understanding and retention.
Keywords: Narrative; writing assignments
Advisor: Dr. Mark Sibicky
Pages: 46p.

Document number: marietta1147461272
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=marietta1147461272