Models of Memory - SAQ Flashcards
What does the MSM propose?
The existence of three separate but sequentially linked memory systems
Who proposed the MSM?
Atkinson and Shiffrin
What are the 3 stores of the MSM?
Sensory memory
Short term memory
Long term memory
What is the sensory memory?
Contains a fleeting impression of a sensory stimulus (sight or a sound).
What is short term memory?
A limited recollection of recently perceived stimuli (a telephone number, an order of drinks).
What is long term memory?
A more or less permanent store of memories for later retrieval (our telephone number).
What is the duration of the sensory memory?
1 second for visual stimuli
2-5 seconds for auditory stimuli
What is the capacity of the sensory memory?
Everything in the perceptual field
What are the conditions required to move to the next store for the sensory memory?
Attention (if a unit of information is attended to, it does not decay but moves to short term memory)
What is the duration of the short term memory?
Less than 30 seconds
How can you increase the duration of the short term memory?
Rehearsal
What is the capacity of the short term memory?
7 ± 2 chunks of information
Who came up with 7 ± 2?
Miller (1956)
How to increase capacity of short term memory?
By chunking information
What are the conditions to move to the next store for STM?
Rehearsal
What is the duration of the long term memory?
Not yet established. Potentially forever.
What is the capacity of the long term memory?
Not yet established. Potentially unlimited.
What are the 3 characteristics of each store?
Duration
Capacity
Conditions necessary for info to move to the next store
Evaluation for MSM
Supported by many research studies
First model to distinguish between STM and LTM.
Evaluation against MSM
Too simplistic
Doesn’t explain distortion or why traumatic experiences are extremely vivid.
Name study for SAQ MSM
Glanzer & Cunitz
When was Glanzer & Cunitz?
1966
What were the participants shown in the Glanzer & Cunitz (1966)
15 lists containing 15 words.
What was the aim of the Glanzer & Cunitz (1966)?
To investigate the serial position effect as evidence for there being two separate stores of memory.
What were the 3 conditions?
Immediate recall after being shown the list.
Recall after a 10 second interference task
Recall after a 30 second interference task
What was the result of the immediate recall condition?
They showed the expected ‘U’ curve.
What was the result of the 10 second delay condition?
Similar primacy effect but a lot less of a recency effect.
What was the result of the 30 second delay condition?
Primacy effect was still high but there was nearly no recency effect.
What is the conclusion of the Glanzer and Cunitz (1966)?
Preventing rehearsal on the 30 second delay condition leads to information not being able to pass to the LTM and therefore preventing the recency effect.
This presents 2 separate memory stores at work.
What is the U curve of the serial position effect?
More items recalled from the beginning and the end of the list. (Recency and Primary effect)
