Research into the WMM (Bklt 3)

Question 1

Name the psychologist(s) who carried out the dual task study

Answer 1

Robbins et al (1996)

Question 2

What was the procedure of the dual task study, and which components of the WMM were used in each condition?

Answer 2

• 12 chess players, must choose their next move in 3 minutes, under 1 of 3 conditions
  (1) Repeating “see-saw” (uses phonological loop)
  (2) Generating random letter sequences (attention task w/ central exec)
  (3) Pressing a keypad clockwise (visuo-spatial)

Question 3

What were the findings of the dual task study?

Answer 3

Saying “see-saw” had little effect. Other 2 conditions impaired quality of of chess moves

Question 4

Which parts of the working memory were found to be involved with choosing chess moves?

Answer 4

Central executive and visuo-spatial sketchpad but NOT the phonological loop

Question 5

In a case study a patient, LH, had been involved in a car accident. He performed better on spatial tasks than those involving imagery. What does this suggest?

Answer 5

This suggests that there are separate visual and spatial systems rather than them being one, as Baddeley and Hitch suggested.

Question 6

A case study of KF suffered brain damage to his phonological loop but not to his visuo-spatial sketchpad. What does this mean for his abilities?

Answer 6

• Damaged phonological loop= can’t deal with verbal/auditory info
• Unaffected visuo-spatial sketchpad= can process visual info

Question 7

Evaluate the lab study conducted by Robbins et al (2 strengths)

Answer 7

+ Good control of ex. variables, can determine cause and effect
+ Many ppts can be studied, high population validity, generalisable

Question 8

Give one strength and one limitation of the case studies on brain-damaged patients

Answer 8

+ Good reflection of memory use in everyday life, meaningful findings
- V small sample, unique findings, can’t generalise