Asked by Abigail Rodriguez on Jul 07, 2024

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What is the probable reason that Ebbinghaus's forgetting curves were so steep

A)  He learned too many lists. 
B)  He used autobiographical materials. 
C)  He had a poor memory. 
D)  He used meaningless materials.

Forgetting Curves

Graphs that visually represent the rate and amount of forgetting over time, originally conceptualized by Hermann Ebbinghaus.

Autobiographical Materials

Texts or records that individuals create about their own lives, including memoirs, diaries, and personal letters, which can provide insights into personal histories and subjective experiences.

Meaningless Materials

Items or content lacking significance, purpose, or relevance.

  • Gain an understanding of Ebbinghaus's work on memory, specifically focusing on the forgetting curve and relearning as indicators of memory retention.
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DC
David ConoscentiJul 12, 2024
Final Answer :
D
Explanation :
Ebbinghaus used meaningless materials (nonsense syllables) which made the learning process more difficult, leading to a steeper forgetting curve. This is because meaningless information is harder to store in the long-term memory compared to meaningful information such as words or concepts that we can relate to our prior knowledge and experiences.