Discuss the Multi Store Model of Memory (16)

Question 1

What is the multi store model of memory?

Answer 1

• According to Atkinson and Shriffin (1968) , it consists of 3 stores linked by processing

Question 2

The sensory register

Answer 2

• Receives stimuli from the environment
  e.g. Iconic memory –> For visual info
  Echoic memory –> For sounds
• Has a large capacity but very brief duration (less than 1/2 a second)

Question 3

Short Term Memory

Answer 3

• Where info that’s paid attention to in sensory register is passed on to
• According to Jacobs and Miller , has a limited capacity of approx. 7 (+/-2) items
• Maintenance rehearsal will keep item in STM

Question 4

Long Term Memory

Answer 4

• Where info is passed onto when sufficiently repeated
• Has unlimited capacity and lasts a life time
• Coded semantically - according to meaning
• Supported by Bahrick et al. (1975) who found pps could recognise the names and faces of old classmates almost 50 years post-graduating
• When recalling a memory from LTM, it will be transferred back to STM

Question 5

MSM Research Support - STRENGHT

Answer 5

STM + LTM are seperate

Baddeley (1966a) found most mistakes were made :
when words are acoustically similar in STM
when words are similar in meaning in LTM

–> demonstrates the stores use different coding methods

Question 6

MSM Research Support - LIMITATION

Answer 6

• Many lab studies have been criticised for using artifical stimuli such as meaningless digit and letter strings
  
  • -> doesnt reflect normal use of memory –> have poor external validity and thus can’t be generalised to everyday circumstances

Question 7

Case Study Support - STRENGHT

Answer 7

• HM
• Suffered damage after brain surgery which left hime without LTM but fully functional STM
• Supports idea that STM + LTM are seperate functions in the brain

Question 8

More Complex Case Study - LIMITATION

Answer 8

• Shallice and Warrington (1970) - amensia patient KF
• Had poor recall of digits that were read aloud to him but could recall better when he read them himself
• Suggests that STM isn’t a unitary store but may have various sub-stores for different types of memory like visual vs auditory - STM oversimplifies

Question 9

How is LTM memories formed? - LIMITATION

Answer 9

• Craik and Watkins (1973)
• According to MSM, the more a memory is rehearsed the more likey it will transfer to LTM
• HOWEVER, it has been shown the type of rehearsal affects likelihood
• Maintenance rehearsal is not effective at forming LT but elaboraive rehearsal - linking to prior knowledge makes it more likely

Question 10

LTM Complexity - LIMITATION

Answer 10

• LTM is likely not unitary
• We know there are different types of memory e.g. episodic and procedural as well as amnesia patients retaining some + losing others
• Thus, process of creating LTM and the stores itself are more complicated than MSM suggest