Memory (not finished)

Question 1

What is Trace Decay?

Answer 1

Automatic memory decay occurring in the sensory memory if information is not attended to. It can also happen in the STM if information is not rehearsed

Question 2

What is Displacement?

Answer 2

When information is ‘pushed out’ of the STM by new information.
- Supported by Miller’s ‘Magic 7’ (5-9 chunk capacity) and Glanzer and Cunitz’s Primacy/Recency Effect

Question 3

What is Interference?
Name the two types.

Answer 3

When similar memories disrupt each other:
- Proactive Interference is when old memories interfere with new ones
- Retroactive Interference is when new memories interfere with old ones

Question 4

Describe Loess’ study on Interference

Answer 4

• Participants were given lists of three words from a particular category (such as animals)
• Participants were told to read the words, count backwards for 15 seconds to prevent maintenance rehearsal, then recall them.
• Over 6 lists, the words were recalled with progressively less accuracy as all of the words were part of the same category.
• When the category was changed, there was no interference from previous words

Question 5

What are the three explanations of forgetting in the LTM?

Answer 5

1. Cue-dependent - When specific sights, sounds, smells, emotions act as triggers for memory
2. Context-dependent - When location/situational context acts as a trigger for memory
3. State-dependent - When a specific psychological state (i.e. happy, sad, drunk) acts as a trigger for memory

Question 6

Tulving and Pearlstone

Answer 6

• Investigated cue-dependent retrieval
• One condition had a list of words to memorise, the other condition had the same list but the words were linked to categories.
• The condition given the categories recalled more words correctly

Question 7

Godden and Baddeley

Answer 7

• Investigated context-dependent retrieval
• 4 conditions of divers were asked to recall words in different combinations of settings: learn and recall on land, learn and recall in water, learn on land and recall in water, learn in water and recall on land.
• Groups where the learning and recall were in the same place had more accurate recall of words

Question 8

Goodwin et al

Answer 8

• Investigated state-dependent retrieval
• University students got drunk and were told to hide money and alcohol
• When sober, they could not find it, but could when drunk again

Question 9

Goodwin et al

Answer 9

• Investigated state-dependent retrieval
• University students got drunk and were told to hide money and alcohol
• When sober, they could not find it, but could when drunk again