(3) CAPACITY, DURATION AND CODING

Question 1

What is Miller’s magic number in relation to short-term memory?

Answer 1

On average, we recall 7 ± 2 items

This concept suggests that the typical capacity of short-term memory is around 5 to 9 chunks of information.

Question 2

How can short-term memory be improved?

Answer 2

By breaking down information into 5-9 chunks

This technique helps in better retention of information.

Question 3

What was the average number of digits recalled in Jacobs’ digit span test?

Answer 3

9.3 digits

This indicates that participants could remember an average of 9.3 digits correctly.

Question 4

What was the average number of letters recalled in Jacobs’ digit span test?

Answer 4

7.3 letters

This shows that participants found it slightly more difficult to remember letters than numbers.

Question 5

Is there a limit to long-term memory capacity?

Answer 5

No limit

Long-term memory can theoretically store an infinite amount of information.

Question 6

Downside of digit span test

Answer 6

Jacobs found span increases with age
Age 8 = 6
Age 19 = 8
So capacity of stm not as fixed as Miller suggests

Question 7

How was the duration of STM studied + give duration of STM

Answer 7

Peterson & Peterson
- 24 uni students
-each tested over 8 trials
- each participant given consonant syllable + 3 dig num (eg HJS 384)
- asked to recall consonant syllable after diff intervals (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 secs)
- counted backwards from 3 dig number during interval
- 90% correct after 3 secs, 2% after 18
- STM duration > 18 secs

Question 8

Limitations of Peterson & Peterson study

Answer 8

• age bias (if cap increases, duration might too)
• no mundane realism
• acronyms eg THX

Question 9

Duration of LTM test + give duration of LTM

Answer 9

400 participants (age 17-74)
-tested on memory of high school classmates
2 tests:
- photo recognition
Shown 50 yearbook photos, asked to name ppl
Within 15 years of grad = 90% accuracy
Within 48 years of grad = 70% accuracy
-free recall
Name everyone you remember
Within 15 years of grad = 60% accuracy
Within 48 years of grad = 30% accuracy

Duration = unlimited

Question 10

Downside to bahrick et al (LTM DURATION)

Answer 10

Some ppl look through yearbooks

Question 11

What type of encoding did Baddeley find Short-Term Memory (STM) uses?

Answer 11

Acoustic

This means that similar-sounding words can interfere with each other in STM. (Eg CAT CAB CAN CAD CAP)

Question 12

What type of encoding did Baddeley find Long-Term Memory (LTM) use?

Answer 12

Semantic

This means that words with similar meanings can interfere with each other in LTM. (Eg LARGE BIG HUGE GREAT BROAD)

Question 13

CODING eval (1 bad)

Answer 13

Downside:
LTM not exclusively acoustic:
- Frost found LTM recall = visual too