duration

Question 1

define duration

Answer 1

amount of time information can be held for

Question 2

peterson and peterson

Duration of STM study

Answer 2

-nonsense trigram (e.g. YCG) to remember and a 3-digit number
- recall the trigram after a retention interval of 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 or 18 seconds
- had to count backwards from 3 digit number = to prevent rehersal of trigram

• 3-second interval 80% recalled correctly
• Average recall after 18 seconds fell to about 10%
• This suggests that duration of STM without rehearsal is about 18-30 seconds

Question 3

peterson and peterson - artificial

Answer 3

• Memorising trigrams does not reflect most real-life memory activities
• It may lack external validity
• not completely irrelevant = sometimes remember meaningless material
• lacks ecological validity = can generalise findings to real life

Question 4

Bahrick et al (1975)

Duration of LTM study

Answer 4

392 Americans aged between 17 and 74
1. Photo Recognition test - 50 photos of Ps’ high school yearbook
2. Free recall test - Ps listed names on their graduating class

• Ps tested within 15 years of graduation were about 90% accurate in photo recognition
• Ps tested 48 years after graduation were about 70% accurate in photo recognition
• Free recall was less accurate
• This shows that LTM can last a very long time

Question 5

bharick et al - high external validity

Answer 5

• Real-life meaningful memories were studied
• However, it is unknown whether Bahrick’s Ps may have looked back at their yearbook photos and rehearsed their memories over the years
• no artificial stimuli = reflect real life