Binghamton Research Days Student Presentations
The Cost of Saving: How Photos and Screenshots Impair Memory
The Cost of Saving: How Photos and Screenshots Impair Memory
Authors: Tara Holihan, Rebecca Lurie, Sophia Fabrizio, Anna Nicotra, Debra Perlmutter
Authors: Tara Holihan, Rebecca Lurie, Sophia Fabrizio, Anna Nicotra, Debra Perlmutter
Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Field of Study: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math
Mentor: Deanne Westerman, Psychology
Mentor: Deanne Westerman, Psychology
Abstract
Abstract
Digital amnesia is the experience of forgetting information that is accessible digitally. For example, the photo impairment effect refers to worse memory for photographed versus non-photographed events. Three experiments were conducted with the goals of extending this finding to screenshots and evaluating whether cognitive offloading or divided attention offers a better explanation of the impairment. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to view, photograph, or screenshot images of art. In Experiment 2, participants were asked to view or screenshot artwork that was displayed on their own device. In Experiment 3, participants were asked to either view, photograph with their own device, or photograph with a device provided by the experimenter. Memory was worse for information that had been saved to any device. Memory was also impaired for art that was screenshotted versus viewed. Overall, results supported a cognitive offloading account of the photo-taking impairment.
Digital amnesia is the experience of forgetting information that is accessible digitally. For example, the photo impairment effect refers to worse memory for photographed versus non-photographed events. Three experiments were conducted with the goals of extending this finding to screenshots and evaluating whether cognitive offloading or divided attention offers a better explanation of the impairment. In Experiment 1, participants were asked to view, photograph, or screenshot images of art. In Experiment 2, participants were asked to view or screenshot artwork that was displayed on their own device. In Experiment 3, participants were asked to either view, photograph with their own device, or photograph with a device provided by the experimenter. Memory was worse for information that had been saved to any device. Memory was also impaired for art that was screenshotted versus viewed. Overall, results supported a cognitive offloading account of the photo-taking impairment.