Memory keywords

Question 1

Description of flow of information in memory

Answer 1

The brain is given information which is called encoding, this is the first step in the process. During this, the information is changed into a suitable format for the brain. It is then kept until it is next required, in the store. Finally bringing information back out of the brain is called retrieval, and something can only be retrieved if we have first remembered it and it has entered storage

Question 2

Encoding?

Answer 2

Changing information so that it can be stored

Question 3

Storage?

Answer 3

Holding information in the memory system

Question 4

Retrieval?

Answer 4

Recovering information from storage

Question 5

Recency effect?

Answer 5

Information received later on (more recently) is recalled more accurately than earlier information

Question 6

Primacy effect?

Answer 6

The information that is received first is recalled better than later information

Question 7

Sensory store?

Answer 7

Holds information received from the senses for a very short time. Memories in this store last for a couple of seconds at the MAX

Question 8

Short term store/memory (STM)?

Answer 8

Holds roughly 6 chunks of information for a limited amount of time. Last between 30 and 60 seconds, most people can remember 7+-3 CHUNKS of information

Question 9

Long term store/memory (LTM)?

Answer 9

Holds a massive amount of information for a great length of time. Thought to hold things for a life time, has an unlimited capacity and memories and information that are stored in it will never be forgotten

Question 10

Interference ?

Answer 10

Things that we have previously learnt that effects the recall of other information (makes this difficult)

Question 11

Retroactive interference?

Answer 11

When new information hinders our ability to recall things that we have learnt in the past

Question 12

Proactive interference?

Answer 12

When information that has previously been learnt effects our ability to recall new information

Question 13

Independent groups?

Answer 13

Two groups and one group does each condition

Question 14

Repeated measures?

Answer 14

Two groups, both of which do both conditions

Question 15

Order effect

Answer 15

In a repeated measures design, participant performance in the second condition can be effected, as they have already done the first condition, either do better because of practice or worse due to tiredness

Question 16

Participant variables

Answer 16

The difference between people that take part in a study, can affect the results in an experiment that uses an independent groups design

Question 17

The flow of information in memory

Answer 17

Encoding, storage, retrieval

Question 18

Retrograde amnesia

Answer 18

A complete loss of memory for events that happened before the brain damage occurred

Question 19

Anterograde amnesia

Answer 19

Being incapable to learn new information after suffering from brain damage

Question 20

Leading question

Answer 20

A structured question that hints at the fact that a particular type of answer is required

Question 21

Reconstructive memory

Answer 21

The process of our brains altering our recollection of things so that they make more sense

Question 22

Matched pairs

Answer 22

Improves independent groups. Group is matched and then split evenly between the conditions

Question 23

Counter balancing

Answer 23

Repeated measures. Half of the TP does condition 1, then condition 2, and the other half does condition 2, followed by condition 1

Question 24

Random sample

Answer 24

Every person in TP has an equal chance of being involved in the experiment

Question 25

Opportunity sample

Answer 25

Using people from the TP who are easily available for the experiment