Memory Flashcards
Encoding
Processing info into a form so that it can be held in your brain
storing
the info is kept in your brain for a period of time
retrieving
info is located and brought back out of your brain
episodic memory
memory of events (conscious)
semantic memory
memory of meaning (conscious)
procedural memory
memory of skills (unconscious)
Evaluation for Tulvings theory
A: brain scans show different types of LTM relate to different brain locations, e.g. procedural memory associated with motor area.
A: amnesiacs like Clive Wearing support LTM types as most of his procedural but not episodic memories were intact. (CW remembers he has a wife but forgets she was with him shortly after she leaves)
D: distinctive types of LTM are dififcult to seperate so it may be an oversimplification. (like remembering to tie your shoelaces bcs you tripped last week is a combo of all three)
Capacity, duration and encoding type for SM
C: all sensory informaiton
D: 1/4 to 1/2 a second
E: sense specific
Capacity, duration and encoding type for STM
C: 7 plus or minus chunks
D: 15 to 30 secs
E: mainly auditory
Capacity, duration and encoding type for LTM
C: unlimited
D: unlimited (from minutes to a lifetime)
E: mainly semantic
Describe the multi-store model of memory
A theoretical framework of how the brain encodes, stores and retrieves info. It is based on the fact that we have 3 memory stores: sensory memory, short term memory and longterm memory. environmental stimuli enters the SM continuously, however if attention isn’t placed on it, it can decay within 1/4 to 1/2 a sec. Though, when attention is applied, the info goes into the STM store, where it’ll either decay or stay there for 15-30 seconds. Then it’ll either decay or stay there for another 30 secs if you repeat the info continuously - maintenance rehearsal. However, doing elaborative rehearsal on the STM, converts the info to the LTM store. Elaborative rehearsal is when you connect the new info with some old info in a meaningful way.
Evaluation for the MSM
A: supporting evidence from baddeley shows qualitative differences between STM and LTM
D: oversimplified, evidence suggests there are multiple STM and LTM stores.
A: usefulness, was a pioneering model of memory that inspired further research and other infleuntial models
D: artificial task, research uses word lists or consonant syllables so the model lacks validity
Primacy effect
the tendency to recall 5 or so words from the beginning of a list
recency effect
tendency to recall 5 or so words from the end of a list
serial position curve
position of word correlates to its likelihood of being remembered
Murdocks serial position study AIM
to investigate whether there are seperate short term and long term memory stores
OR
to see if the likelihood of recalling a word depends on its position in a list
Murdocks PROCEDURE
Participants heard list of words. the word list had between 10-40 words on them. The ppts were asked to recall as many as possible.
Murdocks RESULTS
Ppts recalled more words from the start of the list (primacy effect) and the end of the list (recency effect) than those in the middle of the list.
Murdocks CONCLUSION
- recency effect of words because they were still in STM
- primacy effect of words bcs they had been transferred to LTM
- results indicate the likelihood of recalling a word depends on its position in a list
Murdocks EVALUATIOn
A: standardised procedures like ‘controlling the familiarity of the words’ so can be concluded position of words determine recall.
D: low mundane realism, ppt asked to recall word list, not daily life, may not be how serial position affects memory recall in everyday memory.
A: supporting research, some amnesiacs can’t store LTM, which shows the primacy effect is related to LTM
D: limited sample of ppt. all psych students of smiliar age. difficult to gen the findings to people of diff ages or who don’t study psych.
Bartletts wotg AIM
to investigate how memory was reconstructed when asked to repeat a story over a course of weeks and months
Bartletts wotg PROCEDURE
Used a technique called serial reproduction. He showed ppt ‘TWOTG’ and asked ppt to recall it 15 minutes later. Then, he got this new version and showed it to the next ppt for them to recall it shortly after as well. Process repeated with further ppts.
(culture of the story was much different to the ppts)
Bartletts wotg RESULTS
- stories became shortened by omissions
- certain words and phrases were adapted to match the culture of the speaker (boats instead of canoes)
- story soon became fixed, only slight variations each time.
Bartletts wotf CONCLUSION
He concluded that memories are not exact copies but are influenced by our prior knowledge and our expectations known as schemas.
Bartlett EVALUATE
D: lacks control, ppt weren’t told accurate recall was important, other studies found it better when they were told, suggests recall is more accurate
D: biased, bartlett analysed the collections himself, his belief that recall would be affected by cultural expectations may have biased his interpretations of the results, not trustable results (lless valid)
D: story was unusual - the recall of the story may not reflet everyday memory processes as these will be less affected by cultural expectations, lacks validity, tells us little about everyday memory
effort after meaning
the persistant effort to put unfamiliar ideas into more familiar terms in attempt to comprehend ambiguous or unfamiliar material
reconstructed memory
memories are not exact copies by are influenced by our prior knowledge and our expectations known as schemas
schema
a packet of knowledge about an event, person or place that influences how we percieve and remember
1. personal experience
2. stereotypes
3. cultures
interference
forgetting may occur if two memories compete with each other
proactive interference
unable to recall new information as old memories interfere with the new memories being formed
retroactive memory
unable to recall old information as new memories interfere with old memories being formed
Factors affecting the accuracy of memory
interference, context and false memories
how does context affect memory?
- recall is more accurate when information is encoded and retrieved in the same context
- cues from the context are encoded and can trigger recall
how does false memories affect memory?
imagining an event can implant a false memory in a person, reducing accuracy of memory
