Multi store Model of Memory Flashcards
AO1: Intro for MSM
Atkinson and Shiffrin’s multi store model of memory describes how information flows through the memory. It is a structural model stating that the sensory register, short term memory and long term memory are separate unitary stores that information flows through in a linear way.
AO1: Multi store model
A stimulus from the environment e.g. sound, touch, smell, sight and taste passes to the sensory register which codes any type of information. It has a duration of less than one second and has an unlimited capacity. If unattended, information decays due to limited duration. If attention is payed to information it passes to the short term memory which codes acoustically. It has a duration of 18-30 seconds and has a capacity of 5-9 items . Maintenance rehearsal incases the duration of information kept in the short term memory. If the information has been rehearsed for a prolonged period of time it moves to the long term memory which codes semantically. It has a duration of a lifetime and capacity is unlimited. Retrieval is the process where information can be retrieved from the STM to produce a response.
What are the evaluations for MSM? (4)
1) RTS Baddley
2) Case study - Clive Wearing
3) Low population validity
4) Too simplistic - Patient KF
AO3: RTS Baddley
A strength for the MSM is that it has research to support the STM and the LTM are separate unitary stores. For example Baddley found that participants mixed up words that sounded similar in their STM and they mixed up words that had similar meanings in the LTM. This supports the MSM as it shows the STM codes acoustically and the LTM codes semantically supporting the view that the STM and the LTM are separate stores, increasing the validity of the MSM.
AO3: Case study - Clive Wearing
Research to support the MSM comes from a case study of Clive Wearing. He suffered from amnesia meaning he cam’t transfer information from the STM to the LTM. This is evident as when his wife renters the room he greets her as if he’s not seen her for years opposed to seconds before. This supports the MSM as it shows information flows through each store in a linear way from the STM to the LTM. increasing the validity of the MSM.
AO3: Low population validity
Critics would argue the case study of Clive wearing supporting the MSM is flawed as it has low population validity. This is because Clive Wearing is one person who has an unusual illness damaging his brain. Therefore it is difficult to generalise the findings that information flows in a linear way to the wider population as their memory may operate differently. Therefore reducing the support of the research on the MSM.
AO3: Simplistic - KF
It is suggested the MSM is too simplistic in stating that the STM and LTM are unitary stores. For example Shallice and Warrington conducted a study on patient KF who suffered from amnesia and found that his recall of digits were better when he could visually see the digits himself compared to when they were read aloud. This suggests there must be different stores within the STM one to process visual information and one to process auditory information. Casting doubt on the MSM that it has unitary stores.
