Multi-Store Model (MSM)

Question 1

Who proposed the MSM?

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968).

Question 2

What does the MSM claim?

Answer 2

That memory is made up of three unitary stores linked by processing.

Question 3

What are the three unitary stores?

Answer 3

• The sensory register.
• The short term memory.
• The long term memory.

Question 4

How does information enter the sensory register?

Answer 4

Through a sensory input/stimulus (senses).

Question 5

What type of information does the sensory register code?

Answer 5

Modality-specific information.

Question 6

What is the capacity of the sensory register?

Answer 6

Very large.

Question 7

What is the duration of the sensory register?

Answer 7

Less than 0.5 seconds.

Question 8

How is information transferred from the sensory register to short term memory?

Answer 8

If the individual pays attention to the sensory register.

Question 9

What type of information does short term memory code?

Answer 9

Acoustic information.

Question 10

What is the capacity of short term memory?

Answer 10

5-9 items.

Question 11

What is the duration of short term memory?

Answer 11

18 to 30 seconds.

Question 12

How do you maintain information in short term memory?

Answer 12

Through maintenance rehearsal.

Question 13

What is maintenance rehearsal?

Answer 13

Verbalising or repeatedly thinking about pieces of information.
Can also be the process of ‘chunking’ the information.

Question 14

How can information be forgotten in short term memory?

Answer 14

Due to displacement or decay.

Question 15

How is information transferred from short term memory into long term memory?

Answer 15

Through elaborative rehearsal.

Question 16

What is elaborative rehearsal?

Answer 16

Thinking and rehearsing the meaning of/behind the information.

Question 17

What type of information does long term memory code?

Answer 17

Semantic information.

Question 18

What is the capacity of long term memory?

Answer 18

Unlimited.

Question 19

What is the duration of long term memory?

Answer 19

Up to a lifetime.

Question 20

How is information transferred from long term memory into short term memory?

Answer 20

Through retrieval when the information is needed to be recalled.

Question 21

What link did Atkinson and Shiffrin propose in terms of rehearsal?

Answer 21

That there is a direct link between rehearsal and the strength of long-term memory.

Question 22

What are the 5 evaluation points for MSM?

Answer 22

+ KF case study (separate stores).
- KF case study (STM is not unitary).
+ Murdock, 1962 (serial position research).
- Clive Wearing case study (LTM is not unitary).
+ Sperling, 1960 (letter chart and sensory register).