Coding Flashcards
What is coding?
The way information is processed so it can be stored more easily.
What are the 3 ways coding can occur?
- Visually
- Acoustically
- Semantically
What is coding visually?
Coding something into STM by thinking of an image (eg: an image of a platypus)
What is coding acoustically?
Coding something into STM by repeating a word (eg: repeatedly saying ‘platypus’)
What is coding semantically?
Coding something into STM by using knowledge of something (through meaning)
(eg: understanding what a platypus is)
What does research suggest is the main form of coding for STM?
Acoustically (by sound)
What does research suggest is the main form of coding for LTM?
Semantically
Who conducted research into coding?
Baddeley (1966)
What was involved in Baddeley’s study?
- He presented participants with one of four word lists
- Participants were then asked to recall the words in correct order immediately or after 20 minutes.
What kind of words were on the 4 lists used by Baddeley?
- List A: acoustically similar words (cat, mat, sat)
- List B: acoustically dissimilar words (pit, day, cow)
- List C: semantically similar words (big, huge, tall)
- List D: semantically dissimilar words (hot, safe, full)
According to the results of Baddeley’s study, what kind of words did participants recall the worst when asked to do so immediately?
Acoustically similar words
According to the results of Baddeley’s study, what kind of words did participants recall the worst when asked to do so after 20 mins?
Semantically similar words
What did Baddeley propose about the STM and LTM based of the results of his study?
- STM codes acoustically (based on acoustic confusion in the study)
- LTM codes semantically (based on semantic confusion in the study)
What are the weaknesses of Baddeley’s study?
- Didn’t control for individual differences
- Low ecological validity (uses artificial stimuli to measure memory)
