Coding, capacity, duration

Question 1

Define Capacity

Answer 1

The maximum amount of information that can be retained in memory. (Miller)

Question 2

Define chunking

Answer 2

grouping information into smaller, meaningful clusters, making it easier to remember (Miller)

Question 3

Define duration

Answer 3

How long a memory can be held until it is forgotten (Peterson and Peterson)

Question 4

Define coding

Answer 4

How information is stored in memory

Question 5

What is STM capacity

Answer 5

5-9 items

Question 6

What is STM duration

Answer 6

18-30 seconds

Question 7

How is STM coded

Answer 7

Acoustically

Question 8

What is LTM capacity

Answer 8

limitless

Question 9

What is LTM duration

Answer 9

limitless

Question 10

How is LTM coded

Answer 10

Semantically

Question 11

Baddeley study - coding
(findings, procedure, IV, DV)

Answer 11

72 ppts randomly allocated to 4 groups. IV 1 was Acoustically similar words vs dissimilar. IV 2 was Semantically similar vs dissimilar. DV was score on recall test.
Findings: Acoustically and semantically similar words were harder to recall.

Question 12

Baddeley study - AO3s

Answer 12

Artificial/meaningless stimulus so it lacks external validity.

Question 13

Jacobs research - Capacity

Answer 13

Ppt has to immediately recall a sequence of numbers. One number is added with each trial. Mean span for letters was 7.3.

Question 14

Jacobs Capacity - AO3s

Answer 14

Early research lacked adequate control. Ppts may have been distracted leading to poorer recall. Confounding variable weren’t controlled - lacks validity.

Question 15

Duration of STM - Petersons’

Answer 15

Ppt given constant syllable to remember and 3 digit number. Counted backwards from number ( X mental rehearsal). On each trial ppt were told to stop after varying time 3,6,9,12,15,18.
Findings: 3 secs recall was 80%
18 secs recall was 3%

Question 16

Petersons’ AO3s

Answer 16

Lack of mundane realism/ info was meaningless - lacks validity measuring capacity rather than duration.

Question 17

Bahrick - LTM duration

Answer 17

Ppts aged 17-74 tested in free recall of names of classmates. Photo recognition test
Findings: Free recall accuracy 60% 15yrs 30% after 48
Photo recognition 90% 15yrs 70% 48yrs

Question 18

Bahrick study - AO3s

Answer 18

High external validity/ mundane realism. Its a task people would do in real life.
Lack of confounding variables may not know how often ppts look at their year book.

Question 19

Baddeley

Answer 19

How information is coded in STM/LTM

Question 20

Jacobs

Answer 20

Capacity of STM (digit span)

Question 21

Peterson and Peterson

Answer 21

Duration of STM

Question 22

Bahrick

Answer 22

Duration of LTM