Coding Capacity Duration Of Memory A01&3

Question 1

How is STM coded?

Answer 1

Acoustically

Question 2

How is LTM coded?

Answer 2

Semantically

Question 3

What is the capacity and duration of STM?

Answer 3

5 to 9 items
18-30 seconds

Question 4

What is the capacity and duration of LTM?

Answer 4

Unlimited
Up to a lifetime

Question 5

Describe Baddeley (1966) study

Answer 5

He gave different lists of words to 4 groups of participants (acoustically similar or dissimilar, semantically similar or dissimilar) to remember.
They were shown the original words and asked to recall them in the correct order.
Tended to do worse with acoustically similar words.

Question 6

Describe miller (1956) study of capacity of STM

Answer 6

He made observations of everyday practice. For example he noted things came in sevens such as the days of the week.
This suggests the capacity of STM is about 7 items (plus or minus 2).

Question 7

Describe Peterson and Peterson (1956) study of duration of STM

Answer 7

24 students were given a consonant syllable to remember and a 3-digit number to count backwards for 3,6,9,12,15 or 18 seconds. Students recalled about 80% of the syllables correctly, average recall after 18 seconds fell to 3%.
Suggests the duration of STM without rehearsal is about 18-30 seconds.