In short, encoding could be manipulated (deliberately even) to "enhance" and to produce false memories in a regular pattern (Goodwin, Meissner, & Ericsson, 2001, p. 806) Method

In our experiment results, the hypothesis results were easily verifiable and follow-on clearly from earlier results of the academic literature. The method included an "in list," a not in list related category, and a not in list unrelated category

Results

N

Average recognition rates for: In list

83%

Not in list related

50%

Not in list unrelated

1%

After studying our list of semantically related words, the participants consistently produced false memories of an associated word in the list even though this word was not there in actuality. The memory errors were found to be difficult to avoid even if the research subject is informed about the illusion. This illustrates the power of encoded suggestion to contribute to the phenomena of false memory generation.

Discussion

While our study clearly reflects the body of academic literature, there are clearly limitations of the study and its effects to note. Because of the necessary structure of the experiment, it is still in question whether or not the results would play up in a normal situation. In addition, it does not take into account individuals with unusual or more limited abilities. Certainly, training to deal with word association could "cook" the data inadvertently if individuals selected for the experiment had above average memory. These individuals have to be eliminated from the experimental pool or statistically factored for. Also, individuals with below average association need to be accounted for. Clearly, sophisticated use of statistical averaging over large experimental populations is necessary to fully explore the experiment's full implications

Implications and Applications of the Findings Explored and Future Research Directions:

Truly, the implications of the DRM paradigm seem to be far-reaching. Memories are often constructs of what people think they should have experienced or should have recalled...

Cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists have used the DRM paradigm this illusion as a basic tool to investigate how the brain creates false memories. However, without more statistical averaging and better selection of experimental candidates to come up with an "average" experimental population, it is regrettable to acknowledge that more conclusive results will not be available. This is not to acknowledge the value of the tool to date. Much has been learned regarding phenomenon of false memories, especially with regard to mistaken identity and similar applications. Unfortunately, we must let the data lead to the logical conclusions and refine the experimental method further to fully exploit the demonstrated the already demonstrated and proven potential of the DRM paradigm in action. As Henry L. Roediger III and Kathleen B. McDermott in had to elaborate upon and expand upon James Deese's 1959 experimental results in 1995, so must researchers not follow the same path to further expand and elaborate upon the results. Since the "genie is now out of the bottle" so to speak, it will additionally be necessary to ponder moral considerations so that this powerful tool can not be manipulated by unscrupulous individuals or governments as a tool of repression, propaganda and thought control in an Orwellian manner.
Works Cited

Deese, James. (1959). "on the prediction of occurence of particular verbal intrusions in immediate recall." Journal of Experimental Psychology, 58, 17-22.

Goodwin, Kerri A, Meissner, Christian A., & Ericsson, K. Anders . (2001). Toward a model of false recall: experimental manipulation of encoding context and the collection of verbal reports. Memory & Cognition, 29(6), 806-819.

Roediger III, Henry L., & . McDermott, Kathleen B. (1995). Creating false memories:

remembering words not present in lists . Journal of Experimental Psychology, 21(4), 803-814.

Watson, Jason M., Balota, David, & Roediger III, Henry L. (2003). Creating false memories with hybrid lists of semantic over-additive false memories produced by converging associative networks. Journal of Memory and…