Sample Introductory Script:
Good morning. Thank you for participating in this experiment on memory.
First, I will give you a paper to sign. This is called an informed consent letter. You should know that you are entitled to withdraw from the experiment in case you change your mind. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you have any. After you have signed the paper, I will read some instructions about the experiment to you. Please listen carefully and do not talk to the other participants. The other experimenter will now distribute a piece of paper to you.
Please take out a pencil to write on the paper when I instruct you to do so.
The aim of this experiment is to investigate recall of different words. The experiment consists of two stages and in each stage you will have to recall as many words as you can.
First, I will read a list of 20 words, one at a time, very slowly and then I will ask you to remember the words. I will read the words twice, and after that you’ll write as many as you remember on the piece of paper in front of you. Then I will collect the paper.
I will then repeat the same procedure in the second stage of this experiment.
Do you have any questions?
Sample Debriefing Script:
This experiment investigated whether it was easier to recall concrete words or abstract words. Previous research has demonstrated that there is a higher recall of concrete words than abstract words. The results obtained here seem to confirm that.
If you are interested you can know the full results of the experiment. Please give us your email so that we can send you the information.
Do you have any questions?
Thank you very much for your participation.