Memory Flashcards

Question

The working memory model (AO3) Research into the working memory model 🔴

Answer 1

A weakness of the working memory model is the lack of clarity over how the central executive works and what it does. — This is a limitation as there is no direct evidence supporting the role of the central executive, suggesting there are flaws in the model. — Therefore limiting understanding on the working memory model .

Answer 2

Interference theory suggests that forgetting occurs due to the disruption of memories by other information. — this is most likely when information is similar and is a problem with accessibility — Proactive interference occurs when old memories disrupt the ability to recall new memories. — Retroactive interference occurs when new memories disrupt the ability to recall old memories. — Mcgeoch and McDonald conducted a lab study on retroactive interference. —Participants were split 6 groups and given a word list to remeber to 100% accuracy. — Each group was then given a second list with a different type of interfering material; synonyms, antonyms, unrelated adjectives, consonant syllables, numbers and none. — This was done to interstigate how the type of interfering material affecting memory recall — concluding the more similar the information the more likely it is for interference to occur.

Answer 3

A strength of interference theory as an explanation for forgetting is research support from baddeley and hitch. — They found that after asking rugby players to recall the people they plays with last season, recall of the origional players was less likely if they had played more games last season. — This supports interference because the recall of old memories (original players) was disrupted by new memories (other players from last season). — Therefore interference is a valid explanation for forgetting.

Answer 4

A weakness of interference theory is is evidence that interference can be overridden by cues. — Tulving and potska found that after giving participants multiple word lists to remember, recall was 70% to start with but got progressively worse as participants learnt more lists. — However when given cues word lists (with category names) recall rose back up to 70%. — This is a limitation as it is suggesting interference only causes a temporary loss of accessibility to information that is still in Ltm. —Therefore limiting interference as an explanation for forgetting.

Answer 5

One weakness of interference theory is that the research lacks ecological validity — for example McGeoch and McDonald used a lab study in their investigation — This is a weakness and the artificial environment of the lab lacks mundane realism as the words had little meaning to the individuals — a more realistic task could have been learning a shopping list — therefore interference as an explanation of forgetting, may be of limited application to the real world

Answer 6

Retrieval failure is an explanation for forgetting, where information is still available in Ltm for not accessible due to the lack of necessary cues. — This is supported by Tulvings encoding specificity principals stating “the greater the similarity between the encoding event and the retrieval event, the greater the likelihood of recalling the original memory” — Retrieval failure can be due to context dependent forgetting where recall depends on external cues. — This is supported by godden and baseless deep sea divers study. — They concluded that participants who learnt and recalled a list of words in matching external conditions (on land or underwater) had 40% more accurate recall compared to participants to learnt and recalled a list of words in non matching external conditions, validating Tulving’s ESP — Retrieval failure can also be due to state dependent forgetting where recall depends on internal cues. — This is supported by carter and Cassidys antihistamine study. — They concluded that participants who learnt and recalled a list words in matching internal conditions (on or off the drug) had significantly better recall that participants who learnt and recalled the words in non matching conditions.

Answer 7

A strength of retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting is useful real world application. — During exams students experience a change in their internal state as they enter fight or flight. — For remembering to happen they need to be taken out of fight or fight through methods such as meditation, breathing exercises and visualisation. — This suggests that reinstating their internal conditions in order to provide a cue can help to overcome retrieval failure. — Therefore validating retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting.

Answer 8

A weakness of retrieval failure is recall vs recognition. — Godden and baddeley recreated their study on context dependent forgetting. — However instead of asking participants in each of the four conditions to recall the words they were asked if they recognised the words. — This contradicts retrieval failure as when recognition was tested there was no context dependent forgetting and results were the same for all four conditions. — Therefore limiting retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting to recall and not recognition.

Answer 9

One strength of retrieval failure as an explanation of forgetting is research support from baker et al on whether gum enhances memory — students learnt a list of words in 2 minutes and recalled immediately then again 24hours later — there were 4 condition. Gum-gum, gum- no gum, no gum - gum, no gum - no gum — immediate recall resulted in only small differences — after 24hours the highest recall was found in the matching conditions — therefore supporting retrieval failure in the form of context dependent forgetting as an explanation for forgetting

Answer 10

Post event discussion occurs when multiple witnesses to an event discuss what they had seen with eachother, potentially influencing each individuals recollection of the event. — Gabbert conducted a study of post event discussion where participants were split into two groups. — The control group watched a video of a crime alone whereas the experimental group were put into pairs and watched a video of a crime individually from different angles. — Results found that 71% of participants in the experimental group reported information that was impossible to have seen from their angle, while the control group reported 0% incorrect information.

Answer 11

A strength of research into post even discussion is high internal validity as Gabberts findings were based on a lab study. — For example 71% of the experimental group reported incorrect information. — This supports research into post event discussion as there is a trustworthy cause and effect relationship between post event discussion and the incorrect information and not any extraneous variables. — However this study has low ecological validity as this is not how we experience crimes in everyday life, so participants may be less motivated to be accurate — therefore, limiting the reliability of research into PED on eyewitness testimony.

Answer 12

Another strength of research into post event discussion is findings have a significant benefit on the economy. — For example if incorrect information is spotted, less wrongful convictions and false imprisonment are likely to occur. — This is a benefit to the economy as the £59,000 cost of keep one person in prison is reduced and they are still able to pay taxes. — Therefore suggesting research into PED has significant useful implications.

Answer 13

Another strength of post event discussion is that Gabberts study is based on a lab experiment — this is a strength as the study therefore has high internal validity so researchers can be sure it was the post event discussion causing the wrong information and not any extraneous variables — however, this study also has low ecological validity as this is not how we experience crimes in every day life — therefore limiting the real world application of research into post event discussion

Answer 14

Leading questions are certain questions that encourage a specific answer. — Loftus and palmer conducted a study on the influence of leading questions on eyewitness testimony. —The researchers arranged for 45 participants to watch a video of a car accident and were then asked to describe how fast the cars were going in MpH. —The participants were split into 5 groups each recieving a different verb in their critical question; hit, smashed, bumped, collided or contacted. — Results showed that the verb smashed prompted the fastest estimated speed as a result of response bias or memory substitution from the leading question.

Answer 15

One strength of research into leading questions is Loftus and palmers findings are based on a lab study. — For example, they found that harsher verbs prompted a faster estimated speed in mph. — This is a strength as the study has high internal validity, meaning researchers can be sure the difference in responses was due to the leading questions and not any other extraneous variables. — Therefore creating a trustworthy cause and effect relationship between leading questions and their influence on eyewitness testimony.

Answer 16

A weakness of Loftus and palmers study is low practical application. — For example watching a video clip is not how participants would experience a car accident in real life. — As a result they may be less motivated to be accurate in their estimated speed. — This is a weakness as the finding have ecological validity and study lacks mundane realism. —Therefore, controlled conditions may not accurately reflect how leading questions affect eyewitness testimony in real like situations.

Answer 17

A weakness of research into leading questions is that it may suffer from demand characteristics. — For example, participants in Loftus and Palmer's study participants might have guessed the purpose of the experiment and altered their responses to align with what they thought the researchers expected. — This reduces the internal validity of the study, as the participants' answers may not reflect their true memory of the event — Therefore, the presence of demand characteristics lowers the internal validity of loftus and palmers research into leading questions

Answer 18

Anxiety in the context of EWT referrs to your state of emotional and physical arousal, such as feeling tension and an increased heart rate — This is supported by Johnson and Scott’s study on the weapon focus effect. —Participants were invited to a waiting room. —The control group heard a conversation followed by a man entering with a pen and grease. —The experimental group heard an argument and glass smashing, followed by a man entering with a knife and blood. — Results showed the 49% of the low anxiety group could correctly identify the man a week later compared to only 33% for the high anxiety group. — This suggest anxiety negatively affects EWT. — There were contrary findings from yuille and cuts hall. —They found after interviewing witnesses of a real crime, those with high anxiety were more accurate in their description compared to those with low anxiety. —This suggests anxiety positively affects EWT. — This can be explained by the terms an Dodgson law, suggesting the optimum level of anxiety is needed for the most accurate EWT.

Answer 19

One weakness of Johnson and Scott’s study is they may have been testing unusualness rather than anxiety. — Pickel conducted a study using scissors, a handgun, a chicken or a wallet as handheld items in a hair salon, each varying in levels of unusualness and anxiety. — Results showed that eyewitnesses accuracy was significantly poorer in the high unusualness conditions. — Therefore providing conclusions about the negative effects of unusualness rather than anxiety on EWT

Answer 20

A strength of research into anxiety affecting EWT is research support from valentine and mesout. — They questioned visitors of the London dungeons on their experiences to assess their anxiety levels. — Results showed that 75% of the low anxiety group recalled correct information while only 17% on the high anxiety group recalled correct information. — This supports that high levels of anxiety have a negative effect on EWT. — Therefore validating findings from Johnson and Scott.

Answer 21

One weakness is that the Yerkes-Dodson Law does not take into account all the factors that contribute to anxiety — for example other factors such as cognition, emotional state and physical health would all affect the accuracy of EWT as well — This suggests that the Yerkes-Dodson Law may be too simple

Answer 22

One technique used in the cognitive interviews report everything. — This is where witnesses are encouraged to report every detail even if it seems insignificant, in hopes of triggering other memories. Another technique is to reinstate the context. — This is done to prevent context dependent forgetting as witnesses should mentally go back to the event in order to provide any external cues that could trigger a memory. In addition, witnesses will be asked to recall in reverse. — This is where they will state the events from most recent least recent in order to prevent any dishonesty. Finally the last technique used is to recall from a different perspective, such as another witness. — This is done to recent the influence of scheme or any personal bias

Answer 23

One strength of the cognitive interview in improving the accuracy of EWT is research support from fisher et al. — They found that 63% more information was obtained by detectives trained in the cognitive interview compared to the standard interview. — This suggests there is useful real world application of the cognitive interview. — However fisher found, 85% of EWT was accurate regardlesss of whether cognitive or standard interview was used. — This suggests that while the cognitive interview might produce more information it is not always as efficient in gaining an accurate EWT as the standard interview. — Therefore limiting the validity of the cognitive interview in improving the accuracy of EWT

Answer 24

Another strength of the cognitive interview in improving the accuracy of EWT, is additional evidence from kohnken. — He found that after the meta analysis of 53 studies, the cognitive interview was proven to increase the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. — Therefore increases the reliability of using the cognitive interview over the standard interview.

Answer 25

One weakness is low practical application of the cognitive interview — Carrying out a CI is a time consuming process — Police officer's time is limited and there may be resistance to carrying out a full CI due to the time constraints involved in not only conducting the interview but also training police officers in the technique — This suggests that carrying out a full CI is not a realistic procedure for police officers to use