8. The Working Memory Model AO3

Question 1

Name two strengths of the WMM

Answer 1

• The case of KF supports separate STM stores

- Dual task performance studies support the VSS

Question 2

Explain the research into KF

Answer 2

Researchers carried out a case study of patient KF - had brain damage - had poor STM ability for verbal info but could process visual info normally (e.g. Letters)

Question 3

What did the findings about KF suggest

Answer 3

His Phonological loop had been damaged but other areas were intact - suggests there are separate visual and acoustic stores

Question 4

Explain research into dual task performance studies

Answer 4

Baddeley found participants had more difficulty doing two visual tasks than doing a visual and a verbal task at same time

Question 5

Why did Baddeley suggest these findings may occur

Answer 5

The greater difficulty is because both visual tasks compete for same limited resources - when doing verbal and visual task simultaneously there’s no competition

Question 6

Name a limitation of the WMM

Answer 6

The la k of clarity over the central executive

Question 7

What is the main issue with the central executive

Answer 7

Cognitive psychologists suggest the CE is unsatisfactory and doesn’t really explain anything - should be more clearly specified than being ‘attention’

Question 8

What do some psychologists believe about the WMM

Answer 8

It consists of separate components

Question 9

What does the lack of clarity about the central executive mean for the WMM

Answer 9

It hasn’t been fully explained