Multi-Store Model (MSM) Flashcards
Who proposed the MSM?
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968).
What does the MSM claim?
That memory is made up of three unitary stores linked by processing.
What are the three unitary stores?
- The sensory register.
- The short term memory.
- The long term memory.
How does information enter the sensory register?
Through a sensory input/stimulus (senses).
What type of information does the sensory register code?
Modality-specific information.
What is the capacity of the sensory register?
Very large.
What is the duration of the sensory register?
Less than 0.5 seconds.
How is information transferred from the sensory register to short term memory?
If the individual pays attention to the sensory register.
What type of information does short term memory code?
Acoustic information.
What is the capacity of short term memory?
5-9 items.
What is the duration of short term memory?
18 to 30 seconds.
How do you maintain information in short term memory?
Through maintenance rehearsal.
What is maintenance rehearsal?
Verbalising or repeatedly thinking about pieces of information.
Can also be the process of ‘chunking’ the information.
How can information be forgotten in short term memory?
Due to displacement or decay.
How is information transferred from short term memory into long term memory?
Through elaborative rehearsal.
What is elaborative rehearsal?
Thinking and rehearsing the meaning of/behind the information.
What type of information does long term memory code?
Semantic information.
What is the capacity of long term memory?
Unlimited.
What is the duration of long term memory?
Up to a lifetime.
How is information transferred from long term memory into short term memory?
Through retrieval when the information is needed to be recalled.
What link did Atkinson and Shiffrin propose in terms of rehearsal?
That there is a direct link between rehearsal and the strength of long-term memory.
What are the 5 evaluation points for MSM?
+ 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).
