Visuospatial working memory

The proposed research will be conducted on “Is there a gender effect on Visuospatial working memory?” As the theoretical concept suggests that visuospatial working memory is the capacity to maintain and represent the gathered visuospatial information. It connects memory components and aspects of phonological working memories, which helps perform cognitive tasks. The concept that there are gender-based differences in working memory functioning is particularly relevant. Females can be stated to tend to perform better compared to males when it comes to verbal-based episodic memory unlike their performance in the spatial-based memory tasks. This fact strengthens the research topic and proves the fact that there are indeed differences in terms of performance of women in visuospatial activities in working memory, (Yuan et al., 2019).

Visuospatial working memory is the capacity to maintain the representation of visuospatial information for a brief period. A visuospatial sketchpad is the ability to temporarily hold spatial and visual information. Every human being lives in a multidimensional space where the use of visuospatial ability is important. Thus, it can be stated that there is the importance of the development of spatial ability in every individual (Tsutsui et al., 2016). Visuospatial abilities being so important, it is also significant to analyse if its ability to function depends on gender. Thus, it can be stated that it is important to conduct a was to analyse the significant differences between genders in the Visiospatial functioning of working memory in particular. The other significant aspect behind selecting such a topic is to analyse the cause behind gender differences in the functioning of visuospatial working memory. There have been few types of research to understand the causes of such differences. Thus, the research is important as it will add new avenues to the already existing information on the topic.  The independent variable in the proposed topic is: Gender effect

The dependent variable in the proposed topic is: Effect on Visio-spatial working memory

Working memory is operationally defined as the memory system concerned about the temporary retention of that information that has been experienced not long back but the information or the source of information is absent from the face of the external environment around. The information can be stored in the memory for a long time although the internal representation is short-lived (Piccardi et al., 2019).

Recent research has investigated if gender differences in working memory are related to the nature of stimuli. The nature of stimuli can range from verbal to visuospatial type, and the strategy used for information processing can be active vs passive. The paper had administered two tests to the selected participants. The respondents of the study were college students. The study concluded by supporting previous studies, and there exist gender differences in visuospatial working memory. Verbal encoding was found less efficacious when compared to other strategies. For low levels of education,  gender differences were detected in verbal working memory. The research also suggested that the differences were detected more when compared with the type of material like the verbal and visuospatial materials than when they had to perform with the type of processing information like the active and passive type of processing. The paper also concluded that if age and educational level are selected so that they are matched with sexes, then the differences in response based on gender due to the stimuli processing will cease to exist, (Piccardi et al., 2019).

Literature Review

Another research was conducted by Voyer et al., (2016) to analyse the effect of Sex differences on visual-spatial working memory. Visual-spatial working memory is often used in clinical and experimental settings. The paper aimed to analyse the argument that males have an advantage in terms of spatial abilities and this difference can be explained in terms of visual-spatial working memory. The paper aims to analyse the magnitude at which sex differences can be detected in visual-spatial working memory activities. The paper’s aim is similar to that of Piccardi et al., (2019). The paper had a 180 sample size which included males and females both. The research concluded that male has an advantage over females in terms of visual-spatial working memory.

Loring-meier & Halpern, (1999) also conducted research that analysed the role of sex in visuospatial working memory. The analysis was made as a Component of cognitive processing. Computer-administered four visuospatial tasks were administered to the respondents. The reaction time and accuracy of the responses provided by the respondents were recorded. Practice trials were presented before each actual trial. The reaction time and accuracy of the image maintenance task were analysed, and the data provided by men were compared with women. The research concluded that there were no significant differences in the rate of accurate data presentation between males and females. Thus, it can be concluded that the paper did not find any significant difference in the Visio-spatial performance of females and males.   

Shah et al., (2013) has also used CBT like Piccardi et al., (2019). Shah et al., (2013), in their research CBT analysed the spatial abilities differences among male and females participants using different versions of CBT called the non-navigational Corsi block-tapping test (CBT).  They also did a search task. The research concluded similar results as concluded by Loring-meier & Halpern, (1999). Shah et al., (2013) also concluded that there were no significant differences in the performances given by males or females. There was no difference in the visuospatial performances given by both genders.  When the standard CBT was conducted, no significant discrimination was found between spatial memory span and the role of spatial organisational factors of female and male respondents. The computerised version of CBT was also administered by Vandierendonck et al., (2004) to assess forward call orders and reverse call orders. It was concluded that memory performance on forward-recall order was not impaired but when conducted backwards-recall, memory was impaired.  

Proposed Method

For the present research, young adults will be selected as the target population. They will be aged around 22-34 years. For the research process, the sample size is important to be selected. The entire population cannot be used to collect the data, (Nundy, Kakar & Bhutta, 2022). Thus a sample that represents the target population needs to be considered. One hundred respondents will be selected, comprising an equal number of males and females; 50 male and 50 female respondents. The sampling method that will be used is the random sampling method, (Pecha, & Kárný, 2021). By using this method, each sample has an equal chance of being selected for being represented in the sample size. This system will also ensure an unbiased representation of the total population. There will be fewer chances of sampling error following this method of sampling. An unbiased form of sampling technique is important to draw unbiased conclusions which can be generalised to the wider population. The sampling technique helps in the process of carrying out large scale research, (Sharma, 2017).

The data will be collected from their respondents for a day. The data collection method will start in the morning, around 10.30 am. The study will be conducted in a convenient setting for both the respondents and the researcher. The Corsi test will be conducted on the respondents. It is a memory task, the design of which is similar to digit span tasks. The respondents will be shown nine blocks arranged in random order. The respondents need to remember the sequence in which the researcher tapped on the blocks. Remember which the respondents need to trap on the blocks in a similar sequence. These steps will be followed three times for a different time lengths. The hence collected will then be segregated in terms of gender and then analysed. The study will be conducted on 100 healthy respondents. Working memory can be effectively analsyed by the use of CBT and thus the technique will be used. The normal score if the test is 6. The highest possible block span is around 9, (Corsi, 1972).

The quasi-experiment research method will be followed. It involves the manipulation of independent variables. It does not involve random assignment of participants to experimental conditions, (Ghezeljeh et al., 2019). In the present research, there will be only one group with no controlled group or experimental group, and thus, there will be no need of assigning respondents to either of the groups. The research will analyse the difference in Visio-spatial responses being provided by both the genders and compare to investigate if there is any significant variation in the response style of the genders. However, they will be assigned as they belong to the inclusion criteria. Since there is no experimental or control group, the research method will not follow the true experiment research method. Since the paper will evaluate the difference in the response of the genders, a quasi-experimental research design will be effective, (Chelagat et al., 2020).

A within-subject research design will be followed, (Schneider, Avivi-Reich & Mozuraitis, 2015). The research design is also called repeated measure design. This research design will be used as the same number of respondents will be exposed to similar conditions. The research will include three sets of presentations of the blocks. Thus, the entire group, that is, each respondent, will be exposed to each of the three sets of conditions. The same participants will be supposed under different conditions and the result hence collected will be compared and analysed. The same persons will be tested in all the conditions, also called the user interface. The pros of using this condition include the possibility to conduct longitudinal studies. In order to determine which condition is effective, each respondent needs to be exposed to each condition. For the present research, it will be analysed the number of times the respondent gave the same equal responses to the same stimuli. The process will confirm the responses hence received. Since the sample size is not very big, the research design will prove to be effective,

Repeated measures of ANOVA will be done. This measure is commonly used in psychology. Such a measure helps in the research design, which uses repeated measures design. Since the present research is based on repeated measure designs, repeated measures ANOVA will be appropriate for the research method, (von Ende, 2020). It will help in making inferences about the repeated measure design. Repeated measures are being used in the proposed research design as the same respondents will be exposed to each of the same conditions of the variable. Each condition includes the involvement of the same group of respondents. The method extends the dependent t-test but helps in the statistical calculations more. The method is chosen as it will help in the process of making an experiment more efficient. The process will also keep the variability low while the validity of the results higher. Since the experiment is not involving a big sample size yet an adequate one, the repeated measure design will prove to be effective. The research will be able to manipulate changes in the independent variables, (Bakdash, & Marusich, 2017).

Research cannot proceed without ethical considerations. Ethical considerations are the principles that guide the researcher through the research design and disadvantages of how the respondents will or should be treated. In this proposed research, the respondents will be respected and all ethical guidelines set forward by the American Psychological Association will be followed.  The ethical considerations include discussion of the intellectual properties. Such discussions will avoid disagreement will be made clear. Written consent will be collected from the respondents, (Young, 2017). They will be briefed about the research procedure, and deception will be followed. The procedures and the expectations that the research has from the, all the details will be provided to then and written consent will be collected from them. The respondents will be free to leave the data collection process when they feel the need to, as they will not be forced to participate. Tackling part of the research process will be voluntary. Information shared by the respondents will be stirred confidently, (Saunders, 2016).

References

Bakdash, J. Z., & Marusich, L. R. (2017). Repeated measures correlation. Frontiers in psychology, 8, 456. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00456

Chelagat, T., Kokwaro, G., Onyango, J., & Rice, J. (2020). Effect of project-based experiential learning on the health service delivery indicators: a quasi-experiment study. BMC health services research, 20(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-4949-5

Corsi, P.M. (1972). Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain. Doctoral Thesis at McGill University (Canada). https://www.psytoolkit.org/experiment-library/corsi.html

Ghezeljeh, T. N., Aliha, J. M., Haghani, H., & Javadi, N. (2019). Effect of education using the virtual social network on the knowledge and attitude of emergency nurses of disaster preparedness: A quasi-experiment study. Nurse education today, 73, 88-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2018.12.001

Loring-meier, S., & Halpern, D. (1999). Sex differences in visuospatial working memory: Components of cognitive processing. Psychonomic Bulletin &Amp; Review, 6(3), 464-471. https://doi.org/10.3758/bf03210836

Sharma, G. (2017). Pros and cons of different sampling techniques. International journal of applied research, 3(7), 749-752. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/58765080/Pros_and_cons_of_sampling-with-cover-page-v2.pdf?Expires=1648788304&Signature=J4EsTHnFi-LpV368A5RfilaNYDykKUt4XdN4GmbmIZLFg~5IKKMODS4VIYoWW63MxjNSSyjk90VM3rwTjADN8N3I2FK5011U~bO2Jq0JbUKA1BOHW6yZK8yVBoilOtZa1uvo5zKx0lhEQ7yAEuXDOHcc1rFqHc0nGIjUOqv9eJlPU31edvy3PoG0cu2YQfNuLG8dh2gKoDVKqqTMd~H7yv70oxW89ZM3MWQ9Ed8pGCAvrJFj3-uPSLN-T7PL8xi5Ifi~Tdl22c~A03ebhma36ulrAVjjQv84rymeOXtUjKPjlpc5-icMdQ4iweUWxNRLBBNlsOiilgaNwKnm7uKd1g__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA

Nundy, S., Kakar, A., & Bhutta, Z. A. (2022). How to Calculate an Adequate Sample Size?. In How to Practice Academic Medicine and Publish from Developing Countries? (pp. 81-93). Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5248-6_9

Pecha, P., & Kárný, M. (2021). A new methodology is outlined and demonstrated on the improvement of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis based on the random sampling method. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00477-021-02110-0

Piccardi, L., D’Antuono, G., Marin, D., Boccia, M., Ciurli, P., Incoccia, C., … & Guariglia, C. (2019). New evidence for gender differences in performing the Corsi Test but not the Digit Span: Data from 208 individuals. Psychological Studies, 64(4), 411-419. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12646-019-00512-3

Yuan, L., Kong, F., Luo, Y., Zeng, S., Lan, J., & You, X. (2019). Gender Differences in Large-Scale and Small-Scale Spatial Ability: A Systematic Review Based on Behavioral and Neuroimaging Research. Frontiers In Behavioral Neuroscience, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2019.00128

Saunders, J. (2016). Confidentiality. Medicine, 44(10), 596-597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mpmed.2016.07.014

Schneider, B. A., Avivi-Reich, M., & Mozuraitis, M. (2015). A cautionary note on the use of the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) in classification designs with and without within-subject factors. Frontiers in psychology, 6, 474. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00474

Shah, D. S., Prados, J., Gamble, J., De Lillo, C., & Gibson, C. L. (2013). Sex differences in spatial memory using serial and search tasks. Behavioural brain research, 257, 90-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2013.09.027 

Tsutsui, K. I., Oyama, K., Nakamura, S., & Iijima, T. (2016). Comparative overview of visuospatial working memory in monkeys and rats. Frontiers in systems neuroscience, 10, 99. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnsys.2016.00099

Vandierendonck, A., Kemps, E., Fastame, M. C., & Szmalec, A. (2004). Working memory components of the Corsi blocks task. British journal of psychology, 95(1), 57-79. DOI: 10.1348/000712604322779460 

von Ende, C. N. (2020). Repeated-measures analysis: growth and other time-dependent measures. In Design and analysis of ecological experiments (pp. 113-137). Chapman and Hall/CRC.

Voyer, D., Voyer, S., & Saint-Aubin, J. (2016). Sex differences in visual-spatial working memory: A meta-analysis. Psychonomic Bulletin &Amp; Review, 24(2), 307-334. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-016-1085-7

Young, G. (2017). Introduction to Revising the APA Ethics Code. In Revising the APA Ethics Code (pp. 1-36). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60002-4_1