Baddeley and Hitch's Model of Working Memory

Question 1

Define: Baddeley and Hitch’s Model of Working Memory

Answer 1

Proposes that WORKING MEMORY has FOUR SEPARATE BUT INTERDEPENDENTLY FUNCTIONING COMPONENTS which COMBINE TO FORM A HOLISTIC AND MULTIDIMENSIONAL VIEW OF A SITUATION (or episode)

Question 2

Baddeley and Hitch’s Model of Working Memory views short term memory as working memory. Define: working memory

Answer 2

The part of STM that we consciously and actively manipulate (work on) at any given time. Might review.

Question 3

What are the 4 components of the Baddeley and Hitch’s Model of Working Memory.

Answer 3

Phonological loop
Visuo-spatial sketchpad
Central executive
Episodic buffer

Question 4

Role of the phonological loop?

Answer 4

An active auditory store; subvocally or vocally repeats instructions.

Question 5

Role of the visuo-spatial sketchpad?

Answer 5

Actively forms a visual representation of what you see.

Question 6

Roles of the central executive?

Answer 6

Directs attention (what we attend to/ignore)
Retrieves information from LTM
Involved in decision making and calculation
DIrects info from visuo-spatial sketchpad and phonological loop to the episodic buffer.

Question 7

Role of the episodic buffer?

Answer 7

“Workspace” in which information from the visuo-spatial sketchpad, phonological loop and info from LTM from central executive is integrated to form a multidimensional and holistic view of a situation (episode).

Question 8

Which component do we not describe (if given the chance not to) in exams?

Answer 8

The episodic buffer

Question 9

Criticism of the Baddeley and Hitch’s Model of Working Memory?

Answer 9

Some functions of the episodic memory is unclear; aspects of it are not fully explained in relation to the components.