6.11.23 - Memory: Coding, Capacity & Duration Flashcards
What is the short-term memory?
- LIMITED capacity memory store (5-9 items)
- ACOUSTIC coding
- Duration around 18 seconds
What is the long-term memory?
- PERMANENT memory store
- SEMANTIC coding
- Potentially UNLIMITED duration
What is coding?
FORMAT in which information STORED in various MEMORY stores
What is capacity?
AMOUNT of information which can be stored in various memory stores
What is duration?
LENGTH of time information can be stored for in MEMORY
Who conducted research looking at coding in the STM and the LTM?
Baddeley
Procedure of Baddeley study
-
FOUR lists of WORDS given to participants
(acoustically SIMILAR, acoustically
DISSIMILAR, semantically SIMILAR and
semantically DISSIMILAR - Asked to RECALL in correct order
Findings of Baddeley’s study
- WORST recall with acoustically SIMILAR and semantically SIMILAR words
- STM worse with acoustically SIMILAR
- LTM worse with semantically SIMILAR
Conclusion of Baddeley’s study
Coding in STM ACOUSTIC whereas in LTM SEMANTIC
Who investigated chunking in the STM?
Miller
Procedure of Miller’s study
Noted things that came in SEVEN’S
Findings for Miller’s study
- Capacity of STM about 7+-2 ITEMS
- Also recall words more easily by
CHUNKING
What is chunking?
Grouping sets of DIGITS or LETTERS into CHUNKS or UNITS
Who conducted research into the duration of the STM?
Peterson & Peterson
Procedure for Peterson & Peterson’s study
- Gave TRIGRAMS for participants to recall
- Asked to count BACKWARDS to PREVENT
maintenance rehearsal
Conclusion for Peterson & Peterson’s study
Duration of STM about 18 seconds unless MAINTENANCE REHEARSAL occurs
What is maintenance rehearsal?
VERBALLY repeating information over and over again
What is a strength of Baddeley’s study?
Identified clear DIFFERENCE between two memory stores
Identified clear difference between two memory stores
- Notion that STM coding is ACOUSTIC and
LTM coding is SEMANTIC has been fairly
ACCURATE over time - Important in UNDERSTANDING of
memory system - Led to creation of MULTI STORE MODEL
OF MEMORY
What is a limitation of Baddeley’s study?
LACKS ecological validity
Lacks ecological validity
- Word lists had no PERSONAL meaning to
participants - Findings may not tell us much about
coding in different MEMORY tasks - Findings from study have LIMITED
application
What is a limitation of Miller’s study?
May have OVERESTIMATED capacity of STM
May have overestimated capacity of STM
-
Cowan suggested capacity of STM is only
4+-1 chunks - Miller’s LOWER end of estimate (5 items)
more appropriate than SEVEN items
What is a limitation of Peterson & Peterson’s study?
Stimulus material ARTIFICIAL
Stimulus material artificial
- Recalling TRIGRAMS unrealistic task as
does NOT reflect everyday memory tasks
where material is meaningful - Study lacks EXTERNAL VALIDITY
