Memory Flashcards
MSM
-who
-when
-definition
Atkinson & Shiffrin
-1968
-Makes a distinction between separate stores in the sensory register, STM and LTM. i.e how information is processed and stored in the memory
How does the MSM suggest memory is stored?
1)Environmental stimuli enters the SR
2)Attention transfers info from the SR to STM
3)Maintenance rehearsal keeps info in STM
4)Elaborative rehearsal transfers info from STM to LTM
What are the two key claims of the MSM?
1)each store is unitary: one store with no separate parts
2)Each store is separate to others: know this due to their differences in coding, capacity and duration. which suggests one store can be damaged when the other is not.
Define coding, capacity and duration
coding: the way info is changed so it can be stored (format which it is stored)
Capacity: the amount of info a store can hold at one time
Duration: the length of time info can be held in memory
Sensory register
-coding
-capacity
-duration
-stores
Coding = unprocessed form
Capacity = very large
Duration = limited no more than a few seconds
two main stores:
Iconic: visual info less than a second
echoic: auditory info a few seconds
what happens when you do pay attention to info in the SR vs when you don’t
If you pay attention to info, then it goes through to the STM, if you don’t pay attention then it fades (trace decay)
what are the main stores in the sensory register?
1)The iconic: visual information
2) Echoic: auditory information
3) Haptic: feel
4) gustatory: taste
5) olfactory: smell
How long does the visual memory store images we see before they fade?
less than a second
How long does the auditory memory hold sound
a few seconds
Capacity and duration in the sensory register A01
-Sperling
-flashed ptps 3x4 grid of letters onto a screen for less than 50 milliseconds. Recall as many letters as they could, then asked them to recall single rows of letters when particular tones were heard. Could remember approx 4 letters and when asked to recall rows, they recalled on average 3 items, however, items decayed rapidly
conclusions:
capacity of SR is at least 4 items and a duration of 250-500ms
Capacity and duration in the sensory register A03 essay plan (8 Marks)
(+)High control
(-)Low ecological validity
Capacity and duration in the sensory register A03
(+)High control
lab experiment and therefore high control over extraneous variables. For example, all ptps had same experience - all shown the same letters, for the same duration with standardised instructions in a highly controlled environment. Strength because results of this study are unlikely to be effected by confounding variables and have high internal validity. Therefore, we can be confident that the duration of the SR is limited and the capacity is large
Capacity and duration in the sensory register A03
(-)Low ecological validity
has low EV. For example, ptps were shown random letters in a lab and asked to recall them - this may not be like info presented in most real-life situations. Limitation as findings may be difficult to generalise to how the SR works in real-life (low external)
coding of the STM
acoustic
Capacity of the STM
7+/-2 items
Duration of STM
18-30 seconds
Duration in the STM A01
-Peterson and Peterson
-24 undergrads presented with a consonant trigram (i.e.3 letters which do not form recognisable words e.g.NGV). Rehearsal was prevented by asking them to count backwards in three from a specified number. After intervals of 3,6,9,12,15 or 18 seconds to over 30 seconds ptps were asked to stop counting & repeat the trigram
-after 3s recall 80%, after 18s 10% and after 30 seconds no trigrams were recalled
-duration of the STM is 30 seconds in maintenance rehearsal is blocked
Duration into the STM A03 essay plan (8 marks)
(+)High control
(-)Low ecological validity
Duration in STM A03
(+)High control
lab, establishes cause and effect. HC over EV’s (e.g.same trigrams and standardised instruction). Can be confident that the IV (number of seconds ptps were prevented from rehearsing the trigrams) affected the DV (if the trigram could be correctly recalled or not). Results are unlikely to be affected by confounding variables & can therefore be confident that conclusions that the duration of STM is approx 18-30 seconds has high internal validity
Duration in STM A03
(-)Low ecological validity
P&P’s research into duration of STM has low ev For example, ptps were presented with a trigram and recalling it is an artificial and simple task which doesn’t test the true complexity of memory. Limitation because results cannot be generalised to real life and may not provide externally valid support for the claim that duration of STM is limited to approx 18-30 seconds
Duration in LTM A01
-Bahrick et al
-Interviewed grads from a high school in America over a 50yr period. 392 grads were shown a set of photos from their HS year book and split into 2 groups
1- Photo recognition group: given a list of names and asked to select the name that matched the person in the photo
2- recall group: asked to name the person in the photo without being given a list of names
Results:
1- 15 years- 90% could accurately match the correct name to the person in the photo
48 years - 70%
2- 15 years - 60% could accurately name the person in the photo
48 years - 30%
-Duration of LTM can last a long time - at least 34 years based on the evidence from this study
Duration in LTM A03 essay plan (8 marks)
(+)High ecological validity
(-)Low control
Duration in the LTM A03
(+)High ecological validity
unlike many other memory experiments, it uses a meaningful stimulus (high-school year book) and tested people for memories from their own lives. Strength because it provides valuable real-life evidence to suggest that the duration of LTM is life long (high external)
Duration in the LTM A03
(-)Low control
over extraneous variables. It is possible that ptps identification of their classmates’ might have been affected by external factors e.g. if ptps had met their classmates more recently than when they left high school. Limitation because Bahricks conclusion might not have high internal validity.
