The multi store model of memory

Question 1

Bygone model

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shiffrin devised the MSM to explain a huge range of research at the time. This showed that STM and LTM were single memory stores, separate and independent from each other. We looked at some of this research on the previous spread. For example Baddeley (1966) showed that coding in STM and LTM is different. Other studies found that the capacities and durations of each store also differ.
But evidence soon grew that LTM is not a single store. Our long-term memories contain such different kinds of information that it is very unlikely LTM is just one store. One long-term store contains facts about the world, another contains personal experiences and a third stores memories of how to perform actions. There is also other research evidence to show that STM is not a single store either, and that there is at least one type of rehearsal not explained by the MSM.
Therefore, although the MSM is an oversimplified model of memory, it was a useful starting point to stimulate research leading to other models that explained more of the evidence.

Question 2

Research support

Answer 2

One strength of the MSM is support from studies showing that STM and LTM are different.
For example, Alan Baddeley (1966, see previous spread) found that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when we are using our STMs. But we mix up words that have similar meanings when we use our LTMs. Further support comes from the studies of capacity and duration we encountered in the previous spread.
These studies clearly show that STM and LTM are separate and independent memory stores, as claimed by the MSM.

Question 3

Counterpoint research support

Answer 3

Despite such apparent support, in everyday life we form memories related to all sorts of useful things - people’s faces, their names, facts, places, etc. But many of the studies that support the MSM used none of these materials. Instead, they used digits, letters (Jacobs), and sometimes words (Baddeley). They even used what are known as consonant syllables that have no meaning (Peterson and Peterson).
This means that the MSM may not be a valid model of how memory works in our everyday lives where we have to remember much more meaningful information.

Question 4

More than one STM store

Answer 4

One limitation of the MSM is evidence of more than one STM store.
Tim Shallice and Elizabeth Warrington (1970) studied a client they referred to as KF who had a clinical memory disorder called amnesia.
KF’s STM for digits was very poor when they were read out loud to him. But his recall was much better when he read the digits to himself. Forther studies of KF (and others) showed that there could even be another short-term store for non-verbal sounds (eg. noises).
This evidence suggests that the MSM is wrong in claiming that there is just one STM Store processing different types of information (e.g. visual, auditory, etc.).

Question 5

Elaborative rehearsal

Answer 5

Another limitation of the MSM is that prolonged rehearsal is not needed for transfer to LTM.
of it - the more you rehearse something, the more likely it is to transfer to LTM. This is prolonged rehearsal. But Fergus Craik and Michael Watkins (1973) found that the type of rehearsal is more important than the amount. Elaborative rehearsal is needed for long-term storage.
This occurs when you link the information to your existing knowledge, or you think about what it means. This means that information can be transferred to LTM without prolonged rehearsal.
This suggests that the MSM does not fully explain how long-term storage is achieved