capacity

Question 1

define capacity

Answer 1

how much information can be held in memory at one time

Question 2

capacity in the LTM is…

Answer 2

unlimited

Question 3

jacobs 1887

capacity of STM

Answer 3

Digit span: R reads 4 digits and increases the number of digits until the P cannot recall the order correctly → this determines the individual’s digit span

• Ps could repeat back 9.3 numbers, 7.3 letters in the correct order immediately after they were presented

Question 4

replication of jacobs study

includes both pro and con

Answer 4

• Jacobs study is old = lacks adequate controls = digit span may be underestimated because they were distracted
• Jacobs findings were confirmed by other with better control over extraneous variables
• Valid

Question 5

Miller 1956

capacity of STM

Answer 5

• Miller noted that things come in sevens: 7 deadly sins, 7 days of the week etc
• The capacity of STM is 7 ± 2 but can be improved by chunking (grouping sets of digits or numbers into meaningful units)

Question 6

miller - overestimated the capacity of STM

Answer 6

• Cowan (2001) = capacity of STM was only about 4 chunks
  ➢ lower end of Miller’s estimate (5 items) is more appropriate than 7
• Issues of validity