Studies on the Limitations of Memory

There were many experiments preformed by several psychologists revolving The Scheme Theory. The Schema Theory is the influence of stored knowledge on current information-processing and behavior. Schema are cognitive structures that provide a framework for organizing information about the word. Empirical study is the effects of schemas on memory,that is was Bartlett studied in 1932.

Bartlett.

According to Bartlett , People will retell their memory the way the can relate it to their cultures or memories. He concluded that schemas can be activated to increase info-processing efficiency. They enable generation of expectations about everything. They can also lead to distortions and mistakes when settings are unfamiliar.The way the participants recalled the story came under the influence of relevant schematic knowledge in their memory. 

French and Richards 1993: studied the influence of schemata and memory retrieval. In their study,there were 3 conditions :
1. Particpants were shown a clock with roman numerals and asked to draw the clock from memory.
2.The same procedure,except that they would be required to draw the clock from memory.
3. The clock was left in full view of the participants and they just had to draw the clock.

The clock had the wrong numeral. In the first 2 conditions, most of the participants drew the right one but the rest drew the wrong number.  French and Richards concluded that the participant's knowledge of the Roman numerals is what caused him to draw it correctly.