Multi-store model of memory by Atkinson & Shiffrin (pack 2)

Question 1

what does memory involve

Answer 1

encoding information (keeping it in a particular form)

storage of information

retrieval (remembering) information

different durations

vary in capacity

Question 2

what stores does the MSM suggest there are?

Answer 2

1. sensory memory
2. STM (working memory)
3. LTM

Question 3

according to MSM how does sensory memory work

Answer 3

first enters in sensory form

encoded through five senses

up to 3/4 items can be held

duration of 1/2 second

after this they decay

we scan through sensory memory to retrieve info

Question 4

how does information go from sensory memory to STM?

Answer 4

paying attention to it

Question 5

How does the MSM suggest STM works?

Answer 5

encodes in acoustic and auditory forms

capacity is between 5-9 items

duration of up to 30 secs

retrieve info held in STM through a sequential search

this can be lost through decay and displacement

Question 6

how does information go from STM to LTM?

Answer 6

rehearsal

Question 7

How does the MSM suggest the LTM works?

Answer 7

encodes info semantically and temporally

retrieve info through a semantic or temporal search

could be stored for a lifetime

LTM has a potentially limitless capacity

Question 8

What research supported the idea that LTM has a potentially limitless capacity?

Answer 8

Brady et al- shown pairs of objects
when original object paired with very different object- 92% identified

shows thousands of images can be maintained successfully in LTM

Question 9

How can information from LTM be forgotten?

Answer 9

interference with other info

or a failure when retrieving it

Question 10

what is the phonological similarity effect?

Answer 10

letters and words of a similar sound are more difficult to recall than those that sound different

Question 11

why does Atkinson and Shiffrin say the phonological similarity effect happens?

Answer 11

STM encodes acoustically, so it is confused by words that sound similar

Question 12

What did Peterson and Peterson find on rehearsal and duration of STM

Answer 12

used an interference task to stop people being able to rehearse info to transfer it to LTM

ps had to remember a single trigram, it was read out and ppt had to count back in threes

after a short time, correct recall likely, but performance dropped rapidly after 15-18 secs

decay occurs in STM after 15-18 secs

Question 13

3 strengths of the MSM

Answer 13

supporting evidence with case studies- H.M unable to transfer new info from STM to LTM so they are separate

lab experiments used to test this out. Standardised procedures so can manipulate variables, see cause and effect and increases scientific credibility

practical applications such as rehearsal helps memory and used in revision for exams

Question 14

3 weaknesses of MSM?

Answer 14

1. there is evidence against to show that rehearsal does not necessarily mean it transfers to LTM (BEKERIAN AND BADDELEY)…people did not know BBC changing wavelengths even though hearing it over a 1000 times on radio
2. lab experiment such as peterson and peterson as low eco validity does not reflect how memory works in everyday life + reductionist
3. further evidence suggests it is not linear. MORRIS et al people who were interested in football more likely to remember than those who are not