The Multi Store Model (MSM)

Question 1

Who developed the multi store model and what does it describe

Answer 1

• Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) developed the Multi-Store Model of memory (MSM),
• it describes the linear flow between three permanent storage systems of memory: the sensory register (SR), short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM).

Question 2

What is the sensory register

Answer 2

• Where information from the senses is stored
• Has a duration of half a second before it is forgotten
• Has a high capacity

Question 3

How is information coded in the sensory register

Answer 3

Information is coded into different stores fro example Iconic-Visual infromation being coded visually and echoic- auditory information being coded acousitically

Question 4

What is the STM

Answer 4

• The limited capacity store
• The capacity is 5-9 items
• Information is coded acoustically
• Duration is 30 seconds unless it is rehearsed

Question 5

What is maintenance rehearsal

Answer 5

When material is repeated over and over again
If you do this enough the material can be passed onto the Long Term Memory

Question 6

What is Long Term Memory

Answer 6

The permanent memory store for information that can be achieved through rehearsal for a long period of time
Information tends to be coded semantically
Unlimited duration
unlimited capacity

Question 7

What is retrieval

Answer 7

When information needs to be recalled from LTM it has to be transferred back into the STM by retirveal

Question 8

Supporting research evidence for MSM

A strength

Answer 8

• A major strength of the MSM is that it is supported by research studies that show that the STM and LTM are qualitatively different
• Baddeley found that we tend to mix up words that have similar meanings when we use our LTMs.
• The strength of this is that ir reinforces that coding in the STM is acoustic an din the LTM it is semantic. So they are different
• This supports the MSM’s view that these two memory stores are separate and independent

Question 9

There is actually more than one type of STM

A weakness

Answer 9

• The MSM states that the STM is a unitary store( only one type of STM)
• However evidence from individuals suffering from amneisa show that this cannot be true
• e.g. Shallice and Warrington (1970) studied a patient called KF
• They found that KF’s short term memory for digits was very poor
• But his recall was much better when he read the digits himself
• Furthere studies of KF and other patients of amneisa reveal that there could be another STM store so the STM cannot be unitary

The WMM is a strength due to KF

Question 10

there is actually more than one type of LTM

Weakness

Answer 10

• There is a lot of reserach that The LTM as well as the STM is not a unitary store
• For example we have one LTM store for our memories of facts about the world and have a different one for our memory of how to ride a bike

Question 11

There is more than one type of rehearsal

Weakness

Answer 11

• Accoridng to the MSM what matters in rehearsal is the amount of times you rehearse something in order to memorise it.
• However Craik and Watkins (1973) found that this predicition is wron
• What really matters is the type of rehearsal.
• Maintenance rehearsal does not transfer information into LTM it just maintains it in the STM
• Whereas Alaborative rehearsal si needed for LTM storage.
• This occurs when you link the information to your existing knowledge
• This is a serious limitation of the MSM beause it is another reserahc ifnding that cannot be exolained by the model