4.1.2 - Memory Flashcards
Complete
What does the short term memory do?
Stores the information we are currently aware of. Encoded acoustically (for sound)
What does the long term memory do?
Stores memories from the past, has continual storage of information outside our awareness. Coding is semantic (for meaning)
Define coding
The format in which information is stored in memory
Define rehearsal
Attending to information so it stays in your memory e.g. verbally repeating it over and over
Define capacity
The amount of information held in a memory store
What is the capacity of the STM?
5-9 items
What is the capacity of the LTM?
Unlimited
Who developed the concept of chunking?
George Miller
What was Miller’s experiment on chunking?
He asked ppts to recall different amounts of letters, words or numbers
He concluded we can recall 7 items, but we can remember more as long as we break the info into 5-9 manageable chunks
We can remember 5 words as easily as we can remember 5 letters through chunking
What was Jacob’s digit span experiment in 1887?
- Researcher gives a number of digits and a participant has to recall them in order
- Researcher increases the amount by 1 digit until the participant recalls the order wrong
- This determines their digit span
- The mean span for ppts was 9.3 items and lower for letters at 7.3
- This shows that the STM is a limited capacity store
What is chunking?
Breaking information into 5-9 manageable chunks
Define duration
The length of time information can be held in memory
What is the duration of the STM?
Between 18-30 seconds
What is the duration of the LTM?
A potential lifetime
What was Bahrick’s study into LTM?
- 1975
- 392 pts from Ohio from ages of 17-24
- Obtained their high school year books
- Tested recall with
1. Photo recognition of 50 photos
2. Free recall test - pts recalled names of graduating class
What were the results of Bahrick’s study on LTM?
15 years after graduation - 90% accurate in photo recognition
48 years after - 70% photo recognition
Names - after 15 years = 60% accurate
- after 48 years = 30% accurate
This suggests that long term memory lasts a very long time
Evaluation of Bahrick’s experiment?
- temporal validity
- external validity
- ethnocentric
- due to it being a longitudinal study there may have been confounding variables e.g. ppts may have stayed in contact
Coding, capacity and duration evaluation?
:( - Baddeley’s study used artificial stimuli, the word lists had no personal meaning to participants - lack external validity
:( + :) - Jacob’s study was conducted a long time ago - extraneous variables may not have been controlled - however other research has confirmed the results supporting its validity
:(- Cowan (2001) research showed the capacity of STM was only 4 chunks - Miller may have overestimated the capacity of STM
:) + :( - Peterson and Peterson used artificial stimuli - lacks ecological validity - although, we remember meaningless things such as phone numbers it is not totally irrelevant
:) - Bahrick et al - studied real-life meaningful memories - although variables not controlled
What is iconic memory?
Visual information is coded visually
What is echoic memory?
sound information is coded acoustically
When does maintenance rehearsal occur?
When we repeat material to ourselves over and over again
What does the multi-store model of memory show?
The model describes how information flows through the memory system. It suggests that memory is made up of 3 stores linked by processing
What is the sensory register and how does it work?
- a stimulus from the environment will pass into it
- sights, sounds, smells , tastes, etc
- material in Sensory Registers lasts only briefly (less than half a second)
- has a high capacity
- information only passes further into the system if you pay attention to it
How do we recall material stored in the LTM?
Retrieval