Multi Store Model of Memory

Question 1

What is the sensory memory?

Answer 1

Where information from the environment enters the model from the five senses.

Question 2

Name the 2 main sensory stores.

Answer 2

1. Iconic - visual.
2. Echoic - auditory.

Question 3

Define coding in regards to the sensory memory.

Answer 3

Information is coded depending on what sense it is coming from e.g sound is coded acoustically.

Question 4

What is the duration of the sensory memory?

Answer 4

Very short - milliseconds.

Question 5

What is the capacity of the sensory memory?

Answer 5

Very large - the sensory register is recieving all sorts of information but most of it recieves no attention so doesn’t progress to the STM.

Question 6

How does information transfer to the STM?

Answer 6

If it recieves attention in one of the sensory stores.

Question 7

How does an individual maintain information in the STM?

Answer 7

Engage in maintenance rehearsal - repeat the information to try and remember it over and over again.

Question 8

In terms of the STM, what is the coding?

Answer 8

Mainly acoustic.

Question 9

What is the capacity of the STM?

Answer 9

7+/-2

Question 10

What is the duration of the STM?

Answer 10

18-30 seconds

Question 11

How does information transfer to the LTM?

Answer 11

If it is rehearsed enough - prolonged rehearsal.

Question 12

In terms of the LTM, what is the coding?

Answer 12

Mainly semantic.

Question 13

What is the capacity of the LTM?

Answer 13

Unlimited.

Question 14

What is the duration of the LTM?

Answer 14

Unlimited.

Question 15

How does an individual recall something from the LTM?

Answer 15

They must go through the process of retrieval - transfer the information back into their STM.

Question 16

List the 2 strengths of the MSM.

Answer 16

1. Case Study of HM.
2. Serial Position Effect.

Question 17

Summarise what is meant by the evaluation point ‘case study of HM’.

Answer 17

• He recieved an operation where his hippocampus was removed to cure his severe epilepsy.
• BUT when he woke, he could no longer create any long-term memories; his memory would only last for the duration of STM.
• Shows that STM and LTM are separate unitary stores.
• BUT case studies are an idiographic method; they only focus on the individual and cannot be generalised to the wider population.
• Evidence to support the model.

Question 18

Summarise what is meant by the evaluation point ‘serial position effect’.

Answer 18

• Participants were asked to read a list of 20 words and recall them from memory.
• Found that people remember words at the beginning of the list (primary effect); occurs because individuals are able to transfer them to LTM.
• Found that people also remember words at the end of the list (recency effect); these words have not yet been lost from STM.
• Provides for MSM as it supports how information moves from Sensroy Register to STM to LTM.

Question 19

List the 2 limitations of the MSM.

Answer 19

1. Model is too simple.
2. Maintenance VS Elaborative Rehearsal.

Question 20

Summarise what is meant by the evaluation point ‘model is too simple’.

Answer 20

• MSM defines STM + LTM as ‘unitary’ single stores.
• BUT alternative models suggest that both STM and LTM are actually divided into multiple qualitively diffrerent stores.
• MSM may not be able to fully explain the divisions within both STM and LTM; limited explanation of memory.

Question 21

Summarise what is meant by the evaluation point ‘maintenance vs elaborative rehearsal’.

Answer 21

• May be more than one type of rehearsal for LTM.
• Found that for information to transfer to LTM, the type of rehearsal is important.
• Maintenance rehearsal is given in the MSM; keeps info in the STM.
• Elaborative rehearsal is not described in the MSM; needed for long term storage; also adds meaning ot something/link to other info already have.

Question 22

Define ‘maintenance rehearsal’.

Answer 22

This type of rehearsal is given in the MSM - it only keeps information in the STM.

Question 23

Define ‘elaborative rehearsal’.

Answer 23

This type of rehearsal is not given in the MSM - it is needded for long term storage e.g transfer info to the LTM. In this type of rehearsal, we add meaning to something and link it to other inforamtion that we already have.