Specifics of Mediated Memorization Ability of the Adult Internet Users

Abstract

The aim of the article is to describe the specifics of a mediated memorization ability of the Internet users (the IU) to memorize new words (familiar/unfamiliar, words that describe certain/abstract concepts). Methods. The research involved 70 respondents aged 37–53. All the responders have a higher education and work in spheres of intellectual labor (education, culture and healthcare). The respondents were divided into two groups based on their preferences of a coding system: the Internet users (the experimental group, EG) and the Reading Subjects (the control group, CG). The pivotal tool in the research was the pictogram technique. It was modified by an extra row. An additional row comprised foreign, unknown words. Instructions, timing and order met the basic requirements of the technique in both cases. Results of the research. A number of recognized familiar words is equal in both groups. There are statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.01) in recognition of unfamiliar terms. Moreover, there is a significant difference (р ≤ 0.01) in recalling abstract concepts in the row of unfamiliar words. In both cases, the reading subjects showed fewer mistakes in recognizing words. Analyzing the data, no correlation between the age and the quantity of right answers has been detected both in the experimental and control groups. Conclusions. The hypothesis that the Internet use has deforming consequences for the mediated memorization has been proved. The deformation leads to a deterioration in memorization of new information, especially when it is generalized.

Keywords

• higher mental functions
• mediated memorization
• pictogram
• active web-users