cog approach: models of memory

Question 1

memory definition

Answer 1

refers to the process by which information is encoded, stored and retrieved.

Question 2

brief ab MSM - who introduced it, what year & what it is

Answer 2

Multi-store Model of Memory, introduced by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968. Linear representation of the three stores of memory; Sensory Memory, STM & LTM

Question 3

hypothesis & 2 main claims of MSM

Answer 3

hypothesises a unidirectional flow b/w the three memory stores.

1st claim -> STM & LTM are two separate stores

2nd claim -> iconic memory stores visual stimuli and it only lasts a fraction of a second

Question 4

sensory memory?

Answer 4

there are two kinds of sensory memory; iconic memory (visual SM) and echoic memory (auditory SM).

sensory memory utilises sensory receptors to encode information from environmental stimuli.

Question 5

STM & LTM? including duration & capacity

Answer 5

information that is paid attention to, goes from sensory memory to STM. after which, information that is rehearsed goes from STM to LTM.

STM: 30 secs, 7 +-2 units
LTM: no defined duration, no limit

Question 6

the two studies that study MSM are? & what claim do they correlate with?

Answer 6

Glanzer & Cunitz (1966) proves the claim that STM and LTM are two separate stores using serial positioning effect (including primacy & recency effect)

Sperling (1960) proves the claim that iconic memory consists of visual stimuli and it only lasts a fraction of a second

Question 7

Glanzer & Cunitz (1966) aim -

Answer 7

investigate serial positioning effect with or without interference from a filler activity

Question 8

Glanzer & Cunitz sample -

Answer 8

46 army enlisted men

Question 9

Sperling (1960) aim -

Answer 9

investigates capacity and duration of SM, esp iconic memory - a type of visual SM.

Question 10

Sperling (1960) results -

Answer 10

whole recall - 35% of letters recalled due to SM’s capacity of only 4-5 objects

partial recall - could recall whole row, in 75% of the trials

Question 11

G&C procedure - brief

Answer 11

15 word lists, 15 words
3 conditions; IFR, DFR (10), DFR (30) - want to see primacy or recency effect aft being read out words

Question 12

G&C results -

Answer 12

in IFR - P.E & R.E both shown
in DFR - only P.E shown (since words had alr gone into LTM) & longer the delay more reduced the R.E

Question 13

sperling (1960) procedure - brief

Answer 13

shown a grid of letters on a screen for a short amt of time (50 milliseconds)

whole recall - asked to recall everything and write it down

partial recall - asked to recall subset of letters based on timed sound cues played in intervals (low, medial & high tones signifying the row)

Question 14

brief ab WM - who introduced it, what year & what it includes

Answer 14

introduced by Baddeley & Hitch in 1974.

STM is not a single store but consists of multiple; central executive, phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad & episodic buffer

Question 15

central executive?

Answer 15

coordinates between sub-systems in STM; decides when what is used and processes any sensory information.

can focus and switch between tasks but has limited capacity.

Question 16

phonological loop?

Answer 16

attends to and organises auditory information, and it can hold an auditory memory trace. It can also convert visual information into sound.

phonological store: holds auditory memory traces which lasts 1.5 to 2 secs if not rehearsed

articulatory rehearsal component: holds info in verbal form and holds words when we speak

Question 17

visuospatial sketchpad?

Answer 17

holds visual and spatial memory, can manipulate visual memory in 2D or 3D form & also knows where visual memory is located

Question 18

episodic buffer?

Answer 18

added (in 2000) - it integrates information coming from different senses at the same time. It is passive and temporary, and gets active only when needed.

Question 19

study to investigate WM?

Answer 19

Robbins et al. (1996)

Question 20

Robbins et al. aim -

Answer 20

to apply WM to the issue of the nature of thought processes occuring in chess players

Question 21

main claim of Robbins et al.

Answer 21

there are separate stores for visual and auditory memory

Question 22

Robbins et al. sample -

Answer 22

20 male chess players from Cambridge, Uk - ranging from casual to grandmasters

Question 23

Robbins et al. procedure brief -

Answer 23

look at the chessboard to the left and replicate it on the board to the right. two conditions ->

using PL: repeat a word every second to the sound of a metronome while doing the task

using VSS: type into a 4x4 keyboard kept out of sight under a desk while arranging pieces w the other hand

Question 24

Robbins et al. results -

Answer 24

avg score using PL: 16/25
avg score using VSS: 4/25 - (less accurate recall coz VSS is being interfered w)

if there was only one system of STM, there would be same influence on scores regardless. therefore suggesting two seperate stores.

Question 25

evaluate MSM (strengths) -

Answer 25

-> it gives us a good understanding of the structure and process of the STM. this allows researchers to expand on this model by doing experiments to improve on this model and make it more valid to prove what the stores actually do. therefore, the model is influential as it has generated a lot of research into memory.

-> many memory studies provide evidence to support the distinction between STM and LTM (in terms of encoding, duration and capacity). the model can account for primacy & recency effects. One such study is the one conducted by G&C.

-> the model also accounts for the role, duration, and capacity of sensory memory, which was studied by Sperling.

Question 26

evaluate MSM (limitations) -

Answer 26

-> the model is oversimplified, in particular when it suggests that both short-term and long-term memory each operate in a single, uniform fashion. we now know is this not the case. it has now become apparent that both short-term and long-term memory are more complicated than previously thought.

^ for example, the WMM proposed by Baddeley and Hitch (1974) showed that STM is more than just one simple unitary store and comprises different components (e.g. central executive, Visuospatial etc.).

-> rehearsal is considered a too simple explanation to account for the transfer of information from STM to LTM. For instance, the model ignores factors such as motivation, effect and strategy (e.g. mnemonics) which underpin learning.