Cognitive psychology Flashcards
what was the sample of baddley
using 72 ppts male&female from the applied psychology unit
what was the aim of your classic study baddeley
to investigate the influence of acoustic and semantic word similarity on learning and recall in short-term and long-term memory
describe the procedure of baddley
-lab experiment asking them to recall acoustically and semantically similar word lists.Each contained 10 words which were either acoustically similar, acoustically dissimilar ,semantically similar or semantically dissimilar.This is an independent measures design as one ppt does one list
-they were first given a hearing test
-then each word was presented for 3 seconds
-the ppts were then required to complete 6 tasks involving memory for digits and then asked to write them down in the correct order.This was repeated 4 times.
-lastly they did a surprise recall where they were shown the words and had to put them in order
what were the results of baddley
acoustically similar words were recalled worse than dissimilar words during the initial phase, semantically similar were significantly harder to recall then semantically dissimilar
what was the conclusion of baddley
short term memory is acoustically encoded long term memory is semantically encoded
strengths of baddley
-lab experiment so highly replicable because many things were standardised like the timings of the procedure
-the high level of control also prevented extraneous variables (like hearing problems)so they were able to focus on the effects of the iv on the dv
-both males and females in sample so more representative of the wider population and results about encoding can be generalised to wider population
-used independent measures design(each person getting only one of the lists)so order effects were reduced as ppts wont get bored or tired by doing the four word lists so results are more valid
weakness of baddley
-lab experiments have low ecological validity so findings about memory cant be applied to real life
-recalling word lists is low in mundane realism
-used independent measures design so there may be ppt variables e.g. natural memory or knowledge which could effect scores on memory tests making results less valid
-the sample was taken from an applied psychology unit who likely have shared characteristics so not generalisable.There could also be demand characteristics as their knowledge of psychology could cause them to guess the purpose of the study and change their behaviour accordingly
describe the msm
-memory is a linear process where information is passed from one store to another, each with its own functions and features
-info enters the sensory register from the 5 senses where it is held for no longer then 2 seconds , it can hold up to 10 iconic items
-if you pay attention to the info it enters the stm which can hold 5-9 items in capacity for up to 30 secs.This store is encoded acoustically.It can be held here by maintenance rehearsal, this is where you repeat the information in your head over and over
-through elaborative rehersal where you give something semantic meaning and repeat it over and over in your head, it will transfer to the ltm which has unlimited capacity and can be stored for a lifetime.Encoding here is semantic and info can be retrieved when needed
strengths of msm
-supported by baddely who demonstrates the encoding of stm and ltm are correct therefore theory is credible
-useful for explaining how things like revision work and the need for rehearsal and focus on semantic meaning and types of amnesia like anterograde where people cannot make new memories so it is more credible as it can explain real life examples of memory
-supported by clive wearing study shows how there are two separate stores because his stm is functioning in the absence of his damaged ltm.T his is why he can only hold info for 30 second but cant transfer anything new
weakness of msm
- supporting studies are mostly carried out in lab experiments like badddely so findings cant apply to real life examples of memory
- evidence like kc shows memory is more complex as he couldnt recall episodic memories but could could recall semantic info therefore this theory is too reductionist
describe the working memory model(wmm)
-the short term memory is made up of multiple parts
-the phonological loop deals with acoustic info like speech .It has limited storage and seems to be split into 2 sub systems :articulatory loop which voices information you are rehearsing and primary acoustic store which just holds the memory of sounds
-visuo-spacial sketchpad-this is your memory of visual and spacial images .It has limited capacity and is also split into two sub sections one spacial and one visual
-central executive-manages two slave systems .Doesn’t handle memories but allocates them to slave systems .It has no storage.It pays attention and switches tasks
-we have dual task abilities meaning we can carry out 2 tasks if they use two different stores however if they use the same store you are unable to do both
strengths of wmm
-the kf study supports the working memory model .He suffered brain damage from a motorcycle accident which damaged his stm .KFs impairment was mainly for verbal info-his memory for visual info was mostly unaffected.This shows there are separate stm components for visual and verbal information meaning theory is credible.
-supporting study robbins chess study asked people to play chess (a ce and vssp task)whilst taking part in a visual task ,CE task or a phonological loop task.The tasks which used the same components impaired the function of the wwm providing support for dual task ability
-useful as it can explain problems that people with dementia have because they have a decline in central executive ability which means they cant pay attention or switch tasks ,the theory is therefore credible as it can explain realife behavior.
-builds on the inital research of the multi store model of memory and adds more detail to the theory by explain the stm in detail e.g. explaining it has different components this makes this model less reductionist than the msm
weakness of wmm
doesnt go into depth about human memory e.g. not including the ltm means it is not a complete explanation of human memory
-most of the research like robbins takes place in a lab
-conflicting evidence from parkin who conducted a brain scan looking for evidence of CE but couldn’t find any areas of activity when conducting CE tasks therefore the model lacks empirical evidence
-the model has been added to overtime for example an episodic buffer has been added so it may have been incomplete and inaccurate in describing the stm
describe the case study of HM
Suffered epileptic seizures after falling off a bike , as he became increasingly incapacitated. At 27, H.M. was operated on ; purpose of experimental surgery was to stop seizures
Tissue from the temporal lobe, including the hippocampus, was removed on both sides of his brain.After the operation H.M. suffered from amnesia and could not create new ltm memories but he could use stm and make procedural memories
strengths of hm
-rich in detail and depth so valid in explaining how memory works
-has triangulation as multiple research methods were used so validity is increased as the findings back each-other up
-useful to tell us how the brain makes new types of memories and the different types there are
