Memory

Question 1

What is the capacity of STM + relevant research?

Answer 1

• Jacobs’ digit span found that 7.3 letters and 9.3 digits could be recalled from a steadily increasing list
• Miller reviewed research and concluded that 7+-2 (5-9) digits could be recalled from immediate memory, and that chunking helps recall more info

Question 2

Evaluate research of capacity of STM

Answer 2

• Simon (1974) people have shorter memory span for larger chunks (1 syllable words > 8-word phrases)
• Jacobs: digit span recall increases with age, 19y/os perform better than 8y/os

Question 3

Explain the interference model of forgetting

Answer 3

Retroactive interference: new info interferes with old
- Muller and Pilzecker - recall was less good if an intervening task is done (describing paintings)
Proactive interference: old info interferes with new
- Baddeley and Hitch - rugby players that played fewer games could recall the teams they’d played against better (less interference)

Question 4

Explain the retrieval failure model of forgetting

Answer 4

Encoding specificity principle: material present at encoding is present at retrieval (Tulving and Thomson)
Context-dependent forgetting: Godden and Baddeley - contextual cues; scuba divers word-learn task

Question 5

Outline the stores in the MSM

Answer 5

1. Sensory register: large capacity, short duration (milliseconds)
2. STM: limited capacity (5 items/chunks), limited duration (few minutes) unless rehearsed
3. LTM: potentially unlimited capacity and duration

Question 6

Outline research support for MSM

Answer 6

HM - could not form new LTMs after removal of hippocampus (to alleviate epileptic symtpoms), could recall old LTMs prior to surgery; therefore research supports notion of separate stores

Question 7

Outline a weakness of MSM

Answer 7

Too simple - WMM; KF