Memory - multi store model

Question 1

who came up with the idea of the MSM (multi-store memory)

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shriffin (1968)

Question 2

what is the key idea behind the MSM?

Answer 2

memory is made of 3 different stores, linked by processing where info moves from one store to another. explains how info is forgotten and remembered

Question 3

what are the three stores in the MSM?

Answer 3

sensory register, STM and LTM.

Question 4

what is the sensory register and what is it’s coding, capacity and duration?

Answer 4

information comes straight from the senses. all information is initially gathered by SR. info is passed onto STM by paying attention.
coding = specific to each sense (modality specific)
capacity = very large
duration = very short, 1/4 of a second

Question 5

what is the short term memory (STM) and is it’s coding, capacity and duration?

Answer 5

coding = stored acoustically
capacity = 7+-2 items - improved by chunking
duration = 18-30 seconds
duration can be extended by verbal rehearsal.
info is passed on to LTM through rehearsal

Question 6

what is maintenance rehearsal?

Answer 6

repeating information over and over

Question 7

what is elaborative rehearsal?

Answer 7

linking new information to material that is already stored in the LTM

Question 8

what is the long term memory (LTM) and is it’s coding, capacity and duration?

Answer 8

coding = semantically
capacity and duration = potentially unlimited
in order to use info from LTM, has to be passed back to STM via retrieval.

Question 9

evaluation of MSM?

Answer 9

+ the idea that STM and LTM are different is supported by other studies
- there is conflicting evidence of more than one STM and LTM
- MSM not accurate to memory in everyday life
- MSM suggests amount of rehearsal = more likely to remember but other studies suggest that the type of rehearsal is most important.
- MSM doesn’t explain how LTM storage is achieved