lesson 1: introduction to memory capacity

Question 1

definition of memory

Answer 1

the mental process used to encode, store and retrieve information

Question 2

Jacobs, digital span technique, 1887
PROCEDURE

Answer 2

aim, measure capacity of STM using the ‘serial digit span technique
lab
ask Pp to remember and repeat lists increasing in length
in serial order
pace matched half second metronome

Question 3

Jacobs, digital span technique, 1887
FINDINGS

Answer 3

STM span 5-9 items
digits recalled better 9.3 items than letter 7.3
digit span increased with age 6.6 for 8 year olds
8.6 for 19 year olds
CAPACITY OF STM IS 7+-2 ITEMS

Question 4

Miller, chunking

Answer 4

amount of information STM can hold can be increased by chunking, organising items of information into groups/chunks
a chunk takes up 1 space in STM which can hold 7
more effective when chunks have meaning eg BBC ITV

Question 5

Miller, chunking
EVALUATION

Answer 5

• ecological validity, artificial study
• mundane realism, not carried out in everyday life
  + practical applications, we know to chunk information to remember it

Question 6

capacity and research for each memory store: sensory register, short term memory, long term memory

Answer 6

sensory register:
c= everything sensed r= none
short term memory:
c= 7+-2 items r= Jacobs, miller
long term memory:
c= unlimited r=impossible to test