Memory

Question 1

Research into coding… Baddeley

Answer 1

4 groups of ppts, all who had to memorise a list of words and then recall in correct order.
Acoustically similar & dissimilar
Semantically similar & dissimilar
**Recall immediately –> worse with acoustically similar
**Recall after 20mins –> worse with semantically similar
Suggests…. Info coded semantically in LTM

Question 2

Research into capacity… Jacobs

Answer 2

Digit Span.
Ppts given a 4 digit number and asked to memorise and recall, if recalled correctly, the number would increase to 5, 6, 7 digits etc.
**Found the mean digit span was 9 items (5-9)
Miller devised +_ 7 items.

Question 3

Research into duration… Peterson

Answer 3

STM.
Ppts were given a ‘trigram’ and a 3-digit number. Ppts were asked to count backwards from this number for an aloted amount of time then recalled the trigram. Started off with 3, then 6, 9 seconds etc to count backwards (retention interval) to prevent maintenance rehersal.
**As retention interval increased –> ability to recall trigram decreased.

Question 4

Research into duration… Bahrick

Answer 4

LTM.
Obtained high school year books off of ppts aged 17-74. Ppts took part in tasks including photo recognition (naming students from photos) and free recall of names (recalling their graduation class).
** Higher percentage of correct recall from both tasks after 15 years as supposed to 48
** Photo recog better after 15 years (90%) as supposed to 48 years (60%)

Question 5

Evaluation of research into coding…

Answer 5

Artificial Stimuli.
Baddeley used artificial stimuli (list of words) as supposed to meaningful material and so hard to generalise findings as we may process more meaningful information differently. Eg may semantically code some info in STM. Findings have limited app

Question 6

Evaluation of research into capacity…

Answer 6

Lacks validity.
Conducted a long time ago and so may lack control and affected findings.

Not so many chunks?
Research to go against Miller’s 7 items suggest 7 is an overestimated statement. More like 5 items.

Question 7

Evaluation of research into duration…

Answer 7

Meaningless/ artificial stimuli for STM.
Peterson used artificial material ‘trigrams’ in his experiment, no real meaning behind these words, especially as they were just a sequence of consenents. Lacks ex validity as cannot be applied to outside contexts and we may be able to remember more meaningful info for longer/ easier.

External validity for LTM.
Bahrick used real high school year books where real meaningful memories were apparent. Studies show that people remembered less meaningful info for a lesser amount of time than more meaningful material. Research into duration of LTM can be applied outside the lab.