STM Capacity

Question 1

How was the capacity of STM tested (AO1)

Answer 1

Jacob’s assessed STM using digit span this is when the number of digits in each trial gradually increased and the PPs had to recall the digits in the correct order.
Jacob found that the average span for digits was 9.3 whilst for letters it was 7.3 as they are less numbers than letters

Question 2

What does the study of STM capacity show

Answer 2

STM has a limited capacity

Question 3

Evaluation of STM strength

Answer 3

P:one strength of STM is that the size of chunks affects how many chunks you can remember
E:evidence for this is that a researcher found that people have a shorter memory,or span for larger chunks such as eight word phrases
E:this supports the view that STM has a limited capacity thus providing it with validity

Question 4

Evaluation :STM capacity weakness

Answer 4

P:one weakness of STM capacity is individual differences
E:evidence for this is that Jacob’s found that average recall of digit span of an 8 year old is 6.6 digits but 19 year old is 8.6 digits which may be due to an change in brain capacity
E: this shows that the capacity of STM is not fixed and individual differences play a role in STM capacity therefore this lacks representation