Atkinson-Shiffrin Multi-Store Model

Question 1

Memory

(4)

Answer 1

• ability to retain information through ESR
  Encoding - conversion of sensory input to be able to be processed and deposited in memory
  Storage - retention and maintenance of information over time
  Retrieval - recovering or locating stored information

Question 2

Sensory Memory

(4)

Answer 2

• receive sensory information from environment
• unlimited capacity
• about 0.2-4 seconds
• only transferred into STM when paid attention to

Question 3

Iconic Memory

(3)

Answer 3

• visual sensory memory
• unlimited capacity
• about 0.3 seconds

Question 4

Echoic Memory

(3)

Answer 4

• auditory sensory memory
• unlimited capacity
• about 3-4 seconds

Question 5

Short-term Memory

(4)

Answer 5

• holds small amount of information in consciousness
• receives info from sensory memory and LTM
• capacity is 7+-2 pieces of information
• 18-20 seconds

Question 6

Chunking

(3)

Answer 6

• organising information into smaller groups
• each small group only accounts for 1/7+-2 pieces of information
  e.g. phone numbers with dashes

Question 7

Maintenance Rehearsal

(2)

Answer 7

• repeating information over and over without adding meaning
  e.g. saying aloud, repeating in your head

Question 8

Elaborative Rehearsal

(2)

Answer 8

• linking new info in a meaningful way with other new or old info, enhancing encoding from STM to LTM
• involves creating retrieval scues which enhances retrieval from LTM to STM
  e.g. relating info to a personal experience

Question 9

Evidence for the Multi-Store Model

(3)

Answer 9

• serial position effect is evidence for STM having limited capacity and duration and being different to LTM
• primacy effect - superior recall for items at the beginning of the list due to enough time for encoding into LTM and LTM’s unlimited capacity and duration
• recency effect - superior recall for items at the end of the list due to information still being in STM

Question 10

Evidence against the Multi-Store Model

(3)

Answer 10

• most sensory information is never processed consciously but can still be stored and retrieved, e.g. humming a tune of a song in the background without consciously noticing it was playing
• LTM must be engaged before STM when deciding which information to bring into working memory
• overemphasises conscious memory and underemphasises unconscious memory
  e.g. procedural memory expressed through behaviour rather than retrieving it into conciousness/STM