Memory (2022)

Question 1

describe LTM

Answer 1

LTM consists of 3 types: episodic, semantic, procedural

split into declarative (episodic and semantic) and non declarative (procedural)

Question 2

episodic memory

Answer 2

memory of events

Question 3

semantic memory

Answer 3

memory of what things mean

Question 4

procedural memory

Answer 4

memory of how to do things

Question 5

declarative

Answer 5

episodic and semantic memory

Question 6

non declarative

Answer 6

procedural memory

Question 7

give 3 evaluation points of LTM

Answer 7

STRENGTH - LTM has specific locations in the brain
STRENGTH - supported by amnesiacs
WEAKNESS - too simple

Question 8

elaborate strength of LTM (LTM has specific locations in the brain)

Answer 8

LTM has specific locations in the brain

Brain scans show that different areas have different functions e:g motor area shows procedural memory

Question 9

elaborate weakness of LTM (too simple)

Answer 9

LTM is too simple

Distinctive types of LTM are difficult to separate so this may be a oversimplification

Question 10

elaborate strength of LTM (supported by amnesiacs)

Answer 10

Supported by amnesiacs
Clive Wearing lost most of his semantic memory but retained his procedural memory
This shows different types of LTM are stored in different places

Question 11

serial position effect

Answer 11

The tendency to remember words at the beginning and end of a list more than the middle
‘Serial position curve’ describes the recall if plotted on a graph

Question 12

primacy effect

Answer 12

The tendency to remember words at the beginning of a list more as they have been rehearsed (LTM)

Question 13

recency effect

Answer 13

The tendency to remember words at the end of a list more as they have been heard recently (STM)

Question 14

aim of Murdock’s serial position curve study

Answer 14

To see if recall was affected by position of words in a list

Question 15

method of Murdock’s serial position curve study

Answer 15

16 participants listened to 20 word lists of varying length (10-40w) and were asked to recall after each list. They were given 90 seconds to recall.

Question 16

results of Murdock’s serial position curve study

Answer 16

Recall was related to position in the list
Higher recall for words at the beginning (primacy)
Higher recall for words at the end of list (recency)

Question 17

conclusion of Murdock’s serial position curve study

Answer 17

Shows the serial position effect and supports MSM

Question 18

give 3 evaluation points of Murdock’s serial position curve study

Answer 18

STRENGTH - lab experiment
STRENGTH - supporting research
WEAKNESS - artificial task

Question 19

elaborate strength of Murdock’s serial position curve study (lab experiment)

Answer 19

Lab experiment
There was a high level of control and firm conclusions can be made
Position of words does affect recall

Question 20

elaborate strength of Murdock’s serial position curve study (supporting research)

Answer 20

Supporting research
Carlesimo et al found that some amnesiacs can’t store LTM and don’t show a primacy effect
This shows primacy effect is related to LTM

Question 21

elaborate weakness of Murdock’s serial position curve study (artificial task)

Answer 21

Artificial task
Word lists were used which only test one type of memory
So the study lacks validity

Question 22

describe the theory of reconstructive memory

Answer 22

People build memory as an active process, It isn’t an exact representation of events. We reconstruct memories

We record fragments and recombine them with our expectations

Our expectations come from the culture we live in and affect storage and recall

We use effort after meaning

Question 23

effort after meaning

Answer 23

We focus on the meaning of events and make an effort afterwards to make sense of the fragments of memory

Question 24

give 3 evaluation points of the theory of reconstructive memory

Answer 24

STRENGTH - more realistic than other theories
WEAKNESS - some memories are still accurate
STRENGTH - can be applied to the real world

Question 25

elaborate strength of the theory of reconstructive memory (more realistic than other theories)

Answer 25

More realistic than other theories | Research into reconstructive memory doesn't use artificial materials so is more valid

Question 26

elaborate weakness of the theory of reconstructive memory (more realistic than other theories)

Answer 26

Some memories are still accurate | If some components of memory are still the exact same then not all recall is reconstructed

Question 27

elaborate strength of the theory of reconstructive memory (can be applied to the real world)

Answer 27

Can be applied to the real world In eyewitness testimony people don't always recall accurately, the theory can explain why EWT is no longer regarded as solid evidence

Question 28

what are the 3 factors affecting memory?

Answer 28

Interference Context False memory

Question 29

interference

Answer 29

Forgetting may occur if two memories compete with each other, especially if the two are similar

Question 30

give 3 evaluation points of interference affecting memory

Answer 30

WEAKNESS - may not be an explanation for forgetting WEAKNESS - artificial task was used STRENGTH - research was highly controlled

Question 31

elaborate weakness of interference affecting memory (may not be an explanation for forgetting)

Answer 31

May not explain forgetting Interference may be temporary and information is not actually forgotten. If a cued recall test is given information can be recalled This shows information is stored in memory but not accessible

Question 32

elaborate weakness of interference affecting memory (artificial task was used)

Answer 32

Artificial task was used | This doesn't reflect real life memory as we don't have to remember wordlists often

Question 33

elaborate strength of interference affecting memory (research was highly controlled)

Answer 33

Research was highly controlled Techniques such as counterbalancing were used to reduce bias We can be sure that interference affected memory

Question 34

context

Answer 34

The situation in which something happens, can be used as a cue to aid recall

Question 35

give 3 evaluation points of context affecting memory

Answer 35

WEAKNESS - only affects very similar situations WEAKNESS - in research recall was short term WEAKNESS - artificial task was used

Question 36

elaborate weakness of context affecting memory (only affects very similar situations)

Answer 36

Only affects very similar situations Context only acts as a cue if the learning environment was the same as the recall environment Therefore context doesn't affect recall in many situations

Question 37

elaborate weakness of context affecting memory (in research recall was short term)

Answer 37

In research recall was short term Participants asked to recall words almost immediately unlike real life So results can't be applied in real life

Question 38

elaborate weakness of context affecting memory (artificial task was used)

Answer 38

Artificial task was used | Wordlists were used and when more complex materials were used better results were found

Question 39

false memory

Answer 39

Memory of an event that didn't happen but feels as if it did happen

Question 40

give 3 evaluation points of false memories affecting memory

Answer 40

STRENGTH - can be applied to EWT WEAKNESS - study raises ethical concerns WEAKNESS - false memory was not of the traumatic kind

Question 41

elaborate strength of context affecting memory (can be applied to EWT)

Answer 41

Can be applied to EWT The results suggest that police questioning could accidentally implant false memories This can explain why EWT is unreliable

Question 42

elaborate weakness of context affecting memory (study raises ethical concerns)

Answer 42

Study raises ethical concerns Despite being debriefed participants may have been left with implanted false memories which lingered Therefore the study may have caused psychological harm

Question 43

elaborate weakness of context affecting memory (false memory was not of the traumatic kind)

Answer 43

False memory was not of the traumatic kind found in therapy Harmless events may be implanted easier than traumatic events Therefore limited conclusions can be drawn