Memory and alcoholism

Abstract

The Rey Ostrreith Complex Figure Test was administered to a group of alcoholics to examine whether the effect of instructions on their ability to form spontaneous encoding strategies. Kelly, Greene & Farr (1988) hypothesised that alcoholics may have an impaired ability to form spontaneous encoding strategies, an attempt was made to test this hypothesis. The group (n = 40) was split into two subgroups, each of 20 subjects. The initial group was tested were not informed that they were performing a memory test. Whereas the second group was instructed to try to remember as much as possible. Results suggest that even when provided with explicit instructions to recall subjects failed to show an advantage over subjects given no specific instructions. Age was shown to be a significant factor, results indicate that when distinguished by age, young subjects with instructions performed the best. The results are discussed in the context that alcoholics may have difficulty with problem-solving in general.