the multi store model of memory

Question 1

who made the multi store model

Answer 1

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968, 1971)

Question 2

what does the multi store model describe

Answer 2

how information flows through the memory system. Suggests that memory is made up of three stores linked by processing.

Question 3

Describe the multi store model

Answer 3

1. Stimulus from the environment
2. sensory register
   - iconic
   - echoic
   - other sensory stores

ATTENTION

short term memory store - response=remembering

PROLONGED REHERSAL

long-term memory store.

goes back to STM through retrieval

maintenance rehearsal (rehearsal loop) takes it from prolonged rehearsal to STM store

Question 4

explain what the sensory register is

Answer 4

stimuli from the environment pass into the sensory register.
This part of memory comprises several registers (sensory memory stores), one for each of our 5 senses
- coding in each store is modality specific (depends on the sense) e.g store coding for visual memory is iconic and the store coding acoustically is echoic memory.

Duration is less than half a second

have high capacity

info only passes further if you maintain attention.

Question 5

explain short term memory

Answer 5

info coded mainly acoustically and lasts about 18 seconds unless its rehearsed.

limited capacity between 5 and 9 items though Cowans research might say otherwise.

maintenance rehearsal occurs when we repeat material to ourselves over and over again. If we rehearse it long enough it passes into our long term memory

Question 6

explain long term memory

Answer 6

coded semantically

duration may be a lifetime (Bahrick et al)

capacity- unlimited

when we want to recall info it has to be passed back into our STM through retrieval

Question 7

evaluate the multi-store model

Answer 7

research support (strength)
- Baddeley (1966) found that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when using STM’s but mix up words that have similar meanings in LTM’s. #
shows that STM and LTM are separate and independent memory stores.
COUNTER - MSM may not be a valid model of how memory works in everyday life where we remember meaningful things. In all the studies they don’t use meaningful things e.g. digits, letters (Jacobs) . words (Baddeley) . consonant syllables (Peterson and Peterson). #

More than one STM store (limiation)
- Shallice Warrington (1970) studied a client referred to as KF who had amnesia. KM’s STM for digits was poor when they were read out loud to him. But his recall was much better when he read the digits to himself. Further studies of KF showed that there could even be another STM store for non-verbal sounds like noises
Suggests MSM is wrong in claiming there is just one STM store processing different types of information

Elaborative rehearsal (limitation)
- prolonged rehearsal is not needed to be transferred into LTM. Craik and Watkins (1973) found that the TYPE of rehearsal is more important than the amount.
- Elaborative rehearsal is needed for LTM
- so MSM doesn’t explain how long term memory is achieved.