The Effect of Social Media Use on Short Term Memory
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
11th Grade
Presentation Topic
Psychology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between social media use and short term memory function. It was hypothesized that people will score lower on the memory test after they go on social media for three minutes vs not going on their phone. Each test consisted of 12 terms that the subject was asked to memorize, then they wrote down as many terms as they could remember. They then took a three minute break on Instagram before attempting to recall the same 12 words. The number of terms forgotten during the break was found by subtracting the the number of terms recalled after the break from the number of terms recalled before the break. These results were compared to the control group where subjects couldn't touch their phone during the break. The hypothesis was supported that people will score lower on the memory test after they go on social media for three minutes.
Recommended Citation
Iseman, Morgan, "The Effect of Social Media Use on Short Term Memory" (2020). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 243.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2020/all/243
Location
Furman Hall 208
Start Date
3-28-2020 11:45 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Social Media Use on Short Term Memory
Furman Hall 208
The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between social media use and short term memory function. It was hypothesized that people will score lower on the memory test after they go on social media for three minutes vs not going on their phone. Each test consisted of 12 terms that the subject was asked to memorize, then they wrote down as many terms as they could remember. They then took a three minute break on Instagram before attempting to recall the same 12 words. The number of terms forgotten during the break was found by subtracting the the number of terms recalled after the break from the number of terms recalled before the break. These results were compared to the control group where subjects couldn't touch their phone during the break. The hypothesis was supported that people will score lower on the memory test after they go on social media for three minutes.
