Psychology - Working memory model

Question 1

Studies must know

Answer 1

Baddeley and Hitch
Baddeley
KF

Question 2

What did Baddeley look at in his 2 studies

Answer 2

Dual task

Central executive

Question 3

Who came up with the working memory model and when

Answer 3

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

Question 4

Dual task method

Answer 4

Devised by Baddeley and Hitch
made to test if there was more than one component to STM
Ppts did a reasoning task while reciting 6 digit sequence

Question 5

Why doesthe dual task method suggest STM has more than one component?

Answer 5

Ppts could carry out both task with only few errors, only a bit slower than when done alone
Otherwise they should have been impaired

Question 6

What did Baddeley and Hitch think of the LTM

Answer 6

Passive store

Maintains previously stored information to be used by the STM when needed

Question 7

Components of the original working memory model

Answer 7

Central executive
Phonological loop
Visuo-spatial scratchpad

Question 8

Central executive

Answer 8

Supervisory unit that has all control
Limited capacity
Can process any type of information
Responsible for a range of control processes
Supported by the 2 'slave' systems

Question 9

Phonological loop

Answer 9

Holds verbal information in a speech-based form
Limited capacity
Temporary storage

Question 10

Visuo-spatial skecthpad

Answer 10

Holds visual/spatial information
Limited capacity
Temporary storage

Question 11

What changes did Baddeley and colleagues make to the model?

Answer 11

Made changes to the slave systems
Phonological loop now made up of phonological store and articulatory loop
Visuo-spatial sketchpad now made up of visual cache and inner scribe

Question 12

New and improved phonological loop

Answer 12

Passive storage system called phonological store linked to active rehearsal system called articulatory loop
Words are maintained in the articulatory loop by subvocal repition

Question 13

Subvocal repition

Answer 13

Repeating something under your breath or mentally so it’s not out loud

Question 14

New and improved visuo-spatial sketchpad

Answer 14

Passive storage system called visual cache is linked to an active rehearsal system called the inner scribe

Question 15

Who gives evidence for the phonological loop and when?

Answer 15

Baddeley, Thomson and Buchanan

1975

Question 16

Baddeley, Thomson and Buchanan

Answer 16

Showed ppts 5 words quickly and asked them to recall in serial order
One condition had short, one-syllable words
Other condition had multiple-syllable words
Shorter words easier to recall
Called this the ‘word length effect’
Concluded the capacity of the loop is determined by time taken to say words then number of items

Question 17

Who gives evidence for the visuo-spatial sketchpad and when?

Answer 17

Baddeley et al

1973

Question 18

Baddeley et al

Answer 18

Get participants to follow a spot of light while imagining a angular block capital (E, T, F)
Found it difficult to follow the light
The tasks were competing for the same space so impaired each other
when following spot of light while doing verbal task there were no problems

Question 19

Evidence for the central executive, who, and when?

Answer 19

Baddeley (shock)

1996

Question 20

Some control processes the central executive is in charge of

Answer 20

Monitoring and correcting errors
Switching attention between tasks
Retrieving information from LTM
Switching retrieval plans

Question 21

Baddeley (1996)

Answer 21

Ppts pressed numbered keys on keyboard to generate random number strings
Done while either: reciting the alphabet, counting from 1, alternating between letters and numbers
Last condition gave least random number strings
The two tasks were competing for attention from central executive

Question 22

Strengths of working memory

Answer 22

Explains STM in terms of temporary storage and active processing
Verbal rehearsal optional process instead of being sole means of transferring information

Question 23

Disadvantages

Answer 23

Exact role of central executive unclear and lacking in research
Fails to account for musical memory - can listen to instrumental music without impairing acoustic tasks

Question 24

KF

Answer 24

Case study done by Shallice and Warrington (1970)
Young man who sustained brain injuries after motobike accident
LTM intact - could retrieve and add information
STM damaged - had a recency affect of 1 item