Features of memory

Question 1

Coding

Answer 1

The way in which information is stored in the different memory stores and the conversion between different formats: visually, acoustically, semantically.

Question 2

Baddeley (1966)

Answer 2

-Gave ppts 4 word lists which were acoustically similar/dissimilar, and semantically similar/dissimilar.
-Words presented 1 at a time.
-They were asked to recall the words immediately as well as 20 mins after learning.

Question 3

Findings

Answer 3

-When asked to recall the acoustically similar words initially, ppts struggled as they were acoustically confused: test for STM.
-When asked to recall the semantically similar words after 20 mins, ppts struggled as they were semantically confused: test for LTM.

Question 4

Conclusions

Answer 4

-STM prefers to code acoustically.
-LTM prefers to code semantically

Question 5

AO3 EVAL strength baddeley

Answer 5

One strength of Baddeley’s study is that it identified a clear difference between memory stores.
Later research showed there are some exceptions to Baddeley’s findings BUT the idea that STM uses mostly acoustic coding + LTM is mostly semantic has stood the test of time.
Was an important step in our understanding of the memory system- led to multistore model.

Question 6

AO3 EVAL limitation baddeley

Answer 6

One limitation of his study was that it used an artificial stimuli rather than a meaningful stimuli. For example, the word lists had no personal meaning to ppts, so his findings may not tell us much about coding in different kinds of memory tasks.
When presenting more meaningful information. ppl may use semantic coding even for STM tasks.
Suggests that the findings from this study have limited application.

Question 7

Duration

Answer 7

How long each memory store can hold items.

Question 8

Peterson + Peterson (1959)

Answer 8

Aim:
Investigate the duration of STM
Procedure:
24 ppts tested over 8 trials.
On each trial the ppt was given a consonant syllable + a 3 digit number e.g. CHT + 251.
They were asked to recall the consonant syllable after a retention interval of 3,6,9,12,15 or 18 secs.
During the retention interval, ppts had to count backwards from their three digit number- done to prevent them from rehearsing.
Findings:
Ppts on average were 90% correct over 3 secs, 20% correct after 9 secs and 2% correct after 18 secs.
Conclusion:
Suggests STM has a very short duration, less than 18 secs when verbal rehearsal is prevented.

Question 9

Bahrick et al (1975)

Answer 9

Aim:
Investigate the duration of LTM
Procedure:
-400 people aged 17-74 tested on their memory of their classmates.
-Photo recognition test required ppts to select people that they had been to school with from 50 pictures, some taken from their yearbook.
-In a free recall test, one with no cues, ppts were asked to list the names of those they remember in their graduating class.
Findings:
-Ppts who were tested within 15 years of graduation were 90% accurate in identifying faces.
-This declined to 70% after 48 years in the photo recognition task.
-Free recall was 60% accurate after 15 years and then dropping to 30% after 48 years.
Conclusion:
-Suggests we can form very long term memories but recall is improved when cues are present like photographs.

Question 10

AO3 EVAL LIMITATION p+p

Answer 10

limitation of Peterson + Peterson’s study was that the stimulus was artificial.
The study isn’t completely irrelevant as we do try to remember meaningless things e.g. phone numbers, BUT recalling consonant syllables doesn’t reflect most everyday activities where what we’re trying to remember is meaningful.
Therefore the study lacked external validity.

Question 11

AO3 EVAL STRENGTH bahrick

Answer 11

strength of Bahrick et al’s study was that it had high external validity., this is because the researchers investigated meaningful memories i.e peoples names and faces. When studies conducted on LTM involved meaningless pictures, recall rates were lower e.g. Shephard 1967.
Suggests that Bahrick et al’s findings reflect a more real estimate of the duration of LTM.

Question 12

Capacity

Answer 12

How much data each memory store can hold

Question 13

Jacobs (1887)

Answer 13

Used the digit span technique to assess STM capacity for digits.
-On average 9.3 items could be recalled and for letters 7.3 items could be recalled.
-Suggested that the recall of numbers was greater as there are only 9 numbers compared to 26 letters.

Question 14

George Miller (1956)

Answer 14

-Concluded that the span of STM is 7 items: sometimes a bit more - (7+2=9) or sometimes a bit less (7-2=5).
-Noted that people can count 7 dots flashed onto a screen but not many more.
-Found that people can chunk items together to increase the capacity.
-The capacity of LTM is thought to be unlimited.

Question 15

AO3 EVAL STRENGTH of Jacobs

Answer 15

It has been replicated.
This study is very old + early research in psych often lack control.
E.G. some peoples digit spans may have been underestimated because they were distracted during testing (confounding variable).
Despite this his findings have been confirmed by other better controlled studies e.g. Bopp + Verhaeghen 2005.

Question 16

AO3 EVAL LIMITATION of Miller

Answer 16

Miller may have overestimated the capacity of STM.
Cowan reviewed other research and found for the capacity of STM to be around 4(+/-1) chunks.
-Vogal et al conducted research on the capacity of STM for visual information + found capacity to be around 4 chunks.
Suggests that the lower end of Millers estimate (5 items) is more appropriate than 7 items