Research on features of stores on MSM Flashcards
Define coding (2)
The way information is stored in the memory e.g. the STM codes acoustically.
AO1: Research into coding STM
Baddley’s aim was to investigate how we code information in the STM. He showed participants lists of words in 4 categories that were acoustically similar, acoustically dissimilar, semantically similar and semantically dissimilar. They then had to recall the lists in the correct order. He found more mistakes were made in the acoustically similar lists which suggests the STM codes acoustically.
AO1: Research into coding LTM
Baddley’s aim was to investigate how we code information in the LTM. He showed participants lists of words in 4 categories that were acoustically similar, acoustically dissimilar, semantically similar and semantically dissimilar. They then had to recall the lists in the correct order after 20 minutes. He found more mistakes were made in the semantically similar lists which suggests the LTM codes semantically.
Define capacity (2)
The amount of information that can be held in the memory. For example the STM has a capacity of 5-9 items
AO1: Research into capacity
Miller’s aim was to investigate the capacity of the STM. He used the digit span technique where participants were presented with a string of unrelated digits that increased by one every time. The digit span was measured until the participants couldn’t remember the sequence in the correct order. He donut that the participants recalled 5-9 items and more items could be recalled if information was chunked. The capacity of STM was 5-9 items and digit span is increased when put into meaningful chunks.
Define duration (2)
The length of time information can be held in the memory. For example the duration of the STM is 18-30 seconds.
AO1: Duration on STM
Peterson and Peterson investigated the duration of the STM. The sample was 24 undergraduate students. Participants were presents with a consonant trigram and given a three digit number to count backwards from to prevent rehearsal. They were then stopped at different intervals and asked to recalled the consonant trigram. They found that at 3 seconds 80% recalled the trigram correctly and after 18 seconds 10% recalled the trigram correctly. In conclusion information lasts from 18-30 seconds unless rehearsed.
AO1: Duration LTM
Barrack investigated the effects of duration on the LTM. He tested 392 American high school graduates aged 17 to 74 on their memory of their former classmates. In condition one they recalled the names using a photo yearbook. In condition two they recalled the names using no photo cues. They found that in condition 1 70% of participants recalled correctly after 48 years. In condition 2 30% recalled correctly after 48 years.
What are the evaluations for duration on LTM? (2)
1) High mundane realism
2) Low control over extraneous variables
AO3: Duration LTM - mundane realism
A strength of the research into duration on the LTM is that it has high control over extraneous variables. This is because the research assessed real life memory where participants had to recall the names of former classmates. Therefore it is easier to generalise the findings of duration into LTM as it is used in real life situations such as searching for an old friend on social media. This increases the external validity of the research into duration of the LTM.
AO3: Duration LTM - Low control over EV
A weakness of the research into duration of the LTM is that it has low control over extraneous variables. This is because the research didn’t tale place in a controlled environment. For example the amount of contact the participants had with classmates after leaving school was not controlled. Therefore cause and affect can’t be established between the IV (time passed) and DV (recall of classmates) so firm conclusions can’t be drawn on the duration of LTM reducing the internal validity of the research findings.
What are the overall evaluations for coding capacity and duration (STM)? (3) 1 + think further
1) Lacks mundane realism
- Think further - we of remember meaningless things such as groups of digits and letters (phone numbers and postcodes). So even if the task is artificial it has some relevance to everyday life.
2) High control over EV
3) High reliability
