Memory 1

Question 1

identify ways of testing memory

Answer 1

1. free recall
2. cued recall
3. recognition
4. explicit
5. implicit

Question 2

explain free recall as a way of testing memory

Answer 2

subject reproducing material from memory with no restrictions

Question 3

explain cued recall as a way of testing memory

Answer 3

subject reproducing a particular item from memory when provided with a specific cue (this can act as a prompt for memory)

Question 4

explain recognition as a way of testing memory

Answer 4

subject decides whether they have seen something previously when presented with item again

common types of recognition include:
2AFC
4AFC
Yes/No recognition

Question 5

what are explicit memory tests?

Answer 5

tests that test conscious memory

Question 6

what are implicit memory test?

Answer 6

tests that done where ppt does not know memory is being tested

memory inferred through a change in behaviour

example:
learning and re-learning a word list
the change in behaviour would be being able to recall words faster
the relearning = implicit memory

Question 7

what types of memory are there according to William James (1890)

Answer 7

1. primary memory
2. secondary memory

Question 8

define primary memory

Answer 8

an observation that when we experience something, it remains in our mind for a moment

Question 9

define secondary memory

Answer 9

where information leaves unconscious and brought back through recall

Question 10

identify 2 types of memory that are examples of primary memories

Answer 10

sensory memory
short term memory

these are things that are being held in consciousness

Question 11

define episodic memory

Answer 11

memory of events that have happened to you

long-term memory is thought to be a form of episodic memory

Question 12

define semantic memory

Answer 12

memory of knowledge of things that are important to you

Question 13

how long does sensory memory last?

Answer 13

few hundred milliseconds

Question 14

how long does short term memory last?

Answer 14

info held in stm for 10-20 seconds but then either transferred to ltm or forgotten about

Question 15

identify features of the Modal Multi Store or Memory
(Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968)

Answer 15

describes clear split between 3 memory systems

sensory register
short term store
long term store

Question 16

according to the MSM, what is the sensory register?

Answer 16

this is where brain gets information from sensory stores (iconic (visual) memory, echoic (sound) memory)

Question 17

according to the MSM, what is the short term store

Answer 17

this is where primary memory is held for seconds
maintained by rehearsal
has a limited capacity (7+/- 2)
limited duration

Question 18

according to the MSM, what is the long term store

Answer 18

this is where secondary memory is stored
unlimited capacity
unlimited duration

Question 19

what evidence is there to support idea that sensory register and short term memory are separate stores

(Jevons, 1871) - numerical discriminations, beans in a box

Answer 19

Jevons (1871)

• threw beans into a white box
• set the task of asking how many beans landed in box
• answer question immediately
• noticed he was able to complete task accurately up to 8-9 beans
• anymore than that, would not be able to recall how many beans present

CONCLUSION
- there is a capacity to short term memory

Question 20

what evidence is there to support the idea that sensory register and short term memory are separate stores?

(Averback, 1963) - tachistoscope, dots

Answer 20

• used a tachistoscope
• displayed patterns of dots for brief intervals
• ## shortly afterwards, erased it with another patterns of dots

Question 20

what evidence is there to support the idea that sensory register and short term memory are separate stores?

(Averback, 1963) - tachistoscope, dots

Answer 20

• used a tachistoscope
• displayed patterns of dots for brief intervals
• shortly afterwards, erased it with another pattern of dots
• asked how many dots there are
• very brief exposure (40ms) ppts were able to correctly identify if 2 dots presented
• if 3 dots presented ppts only 50% correct (when given 40ms exposure)
• there is a limit around 150ms
• when exposed to dots for 150ms, ppts can accurately count up to 8 items
• if given longer exposure time, accuracy is not improved

CONCLUSION:
- short term memory has capacity to hold up to 8/9 items

Question 21

what are tachistoscopes?

Answer 21

a device for presenting things in a very controlled way

Question 22

What did Sperling (1960) research?

Answer 22

conducted partial report procedure into measuring iconic memory and sensory store

iconic memory - type of sensory memory that stores images for a fraction of a second

Question 23

Outline Sperling (1960) study

Answer 23

• presented ppts with a grid of 12 items
• when asked to recall whole grid of 12 items, ppts could only recall 4/5 items
• when asked to immediately recall one row of four, ppts could recall close to 100% for that row
• ppts were instructed which row to recall by a tone
• high freq. tone = top row
• low freq. tone = bottom row
• if tone/recall cue was delayed by 1 second, recall performance goes back down to 30% (as if been asked to recall whole grid)

CONCLUSION:
- shows sensory stores are special and different
- allow us to hold all information but will decay rapidly

Question 24

identify issues with Sperling’s (1960) research

Answer 24

1. output interference says that you can remember all 12 items, up until you try to reproduce them

as you start to recall all 12, the first ones recalled interferes with one of the other ones and gets through the memory

2. issue with tone cues to cue rows and not individual

if cued for individual items instead of whole row, you can estimate that visual memory is as high as 12 items (whole grid)

perhaps capacity is higher, can hold onto more info than suggested

3. duration estimates are dependent on methodology used
4. Nairne questioned whether there was a need for a separate store between the memory stores