1.1 - Short and Long term memory Flashcards
Memory definition
The process by which we retain information about events that have happened in the past’
STM definition
Your memory for events in the present or immediate past is referred to as short term memory (STM). Measured in second and minutes rather than hours.
LTM definition
Your memory for events in the past measured in days, weeks and years is referred to as long term memory (LTM). Allegedly unlimited in duration
Coding definition
The format in which information is stored in sounds (acoustic), visually and in its meaning
Capacity definition
How much can be held in memory, measured in bits of information, e.g digits
Duration definition
How long a memory lasts before it is no longer available
What did Baddeley study and when?
Coding and 1966
Coding Study
Used word lists to test how acoustic and semantic words effected both our STM and LTM
Coding of STM
STM - Acoustically
Coding of LTM
LTM - Semantically
What did Miller study and when?
Capacity and 1956
Capacity of STM study
Magic Number
- Flashing dots on a screen used 7 dots and recognised most people could remember 7 dots
Capacity of STM
7+/-2
Who and when studied the duration of STM?
Peterson and Peterson (1959)
Duration of STM study and results
24 students
- Each tested over 8 trials
- Each trial given 3 constants and three digit numbers
- Asked to recall after 3,6,9,12,15,18 second intervals
- 90% after 3 seconds
- 2% after 18 seconds
