memory Flashcards
short term memory
encoded acoustically, 7 +-2 pieces of information, 18-30 seconds without rehersal.
long term memory
encoded semantically, unlimited pieces of information, unlimited duration.
coding
how information is stored
baddely research into coding
method: groups were given semantically similar, semantically different, acoustically similar or different.
findings: those who recalleed immediately, found the acoustically similar words easier to recall. those who recalled 20 mins later found the semantically similar words ….. to recall.
conclusion: STM is acoustically, LTM is semantically.
capacity
how much information can be stored
research into capacity
Jacobs (1887)
method: by measuring digit spans, read out increasing numbers of didgits and asked participants to recall until they couldnt.
findings: the mean digit span was 9.3 items and 7.5 for letters.
research into capacity
Miller (1956)
method: miller conducted a review of existing reseach and drew conclusion based on observations
findings: the capacity of STM is around 5-9
weakness of Jacobs study
P= Its old and outdated
E= Early research in psychology lacked control, so some participants may have been distracted so their didgit span may have been underestimated.
T= Decrease the validity of his findings as their application to modern is minimalised.
duration
the length of time we can hold information in our memory stores for.
research into STM duration
Peterson and peterson
method: 24 participants were given trigrams to remember. immediately asked to count back in threes for different lengths of time to prevent rehearsal, asked to recall trigrams in correct order.
findings: average recall dropped to 3% after 18 seconds
conclusion: average duration of STM is between 18-30 seconds.
research into LTM duration
Bahrick et al
method: studdied 392 american participants between 17 and 74, recall was tested through photo recognition test consisting of 50 photos from highschool yearbooks and free recall of their graduating class.
findings: within 15 years photo recognision was 90% and 60% for free recall.
within 48 years photo recognision was 70% and 30% for free recall.
One strength of Bahrick study
P= His study isnt artifical.
E= Bahrick uses meaningful tasks, through showing participants of a time of their life.
T= Bahrick study contains high levels of external validity.
multi store model
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) as the first cognitive explanation of memory. Shows how information flows through series of unitary, linear systems.
CASE STUDY henry molaison
-brain injury when younger which led to uncontrollable seizures.
-hippocampus was removed
-couldnt form LTM
could do well in STM tests.
Strength of multi store model
P= There is research support to show different memory stores.
E= Can be seen though Baddely finding we mix up acoustically similar words in our STM, but we mix up semantically similar words in out LTM.
T= Therefore, clearly supports multistore model when stating theres different stores.
weakness of multistore model
P= Its oversimplified
E= KF had amnesia and his STM was very poor when the digits were read out to him, however better when he read them himself.
T=Suggests we have more than one type of STM for processing different types of info.
weakness of multistore model
P= MSM research suggests that prolongued rehearsal is not needed.
E= Craik and Micheal found the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount. Rehearsal is needed for LT storage.
T= MSM doesnt fully explain how LT storage is achieved.
working memory model
indepth STM store
CASE STUDY
Clive Wearing
had amnesia due to virus affecting hippocampus, remember how to play piano but not where he learnt to
working model memory
consists of central executive, phonological loop, visuo spacial sketch pad, episodic buffer
central executive
pays attention to information from senses and monitors data, allocated data to other sections.
coding: modality free
capacity: very limited and doesn’t hold information
phonological loop
- phonological store- stores words you hear in the order.
- articulatory processes- inner voice
visor-spacial sketch pad
- visual cache- passive store for visual data e.g. colour and form
- inner scribe- active store holds objects in visual field
episodic buffer
temporary store for integrating info from all other sub systems
central executive capacity and coding
capacity- very limited as doesn’t store information
coding- modality free, can come from any form
phonological loop coding and capacity
coding- acoustically
capacity- 2 seconds worth of information
visuo spacial sketch pad capacity and coding
coding- visually/ spacially
capacity- around 3/4 pieces of info
episodic buffer coding and capacity
coding- modality free
capacity- 4 chunks
strength of WMM
P= Supported by case studies
E= Kf had a motorbike crash, had poor STM ability for auditory information but could process visual information normal,y
T= Shows that STM is not a single store and consists of separate components for visual and verbal info
