The Multi-store Model of Memory

Question 1

What is the multi-store model (MSM)?

Answer 1

• it describes how info flows through the memory system
• suggests that memory is made up of 3 stores linked by processing

Question 2

What is the sensory register?

Answer 2

• the memory store for each of our senses
• 2 main stores within it are echoic & iconic
• has a high capacity
• duration is less than half a second

Question 3

What is the iconic memory?

Answer 3

• visual info from the eyes is coded visually
• stored as images

Question 4

What is the echoic memory?

Answer 4

• auditory info from the ears is coded acoustically
• stored as sounds

Question 5

What is short-term memory (STM)?

Answer 5

• a limited capacity store of around 5-9 items
• research shows that 5 is more likely than 9
• info is coded acoustically and lasts around 30 seconds unless rehearsed

Question 6

What is maintenance rehearsal?

Answer 6

It occurs when we continuously repeat material to ourselves until the info moves from STM to LTM of rehearsed long enough

Question 7

What is long-term memory (LTM)?

Answer 7

• potentially the permanent memory store that stores info that has been rehearsed
• psychologists believe it has an unlimited capacity
• info is coded semantically
• info from LTM can transfer back to STM through retrieval

Question 8

Evaluation: Supporting research evidence

Answer 8

• MSM is supported by research studies that show STM & LTM are different
• Baddeley found that we mix up words that sound similar when using our STM and mix up words that have similar meanings when using our LTM
• shows that coding is acoustic in STM & semantic in LTM - separate memory stores

Question 9

Evaluation: More than one type of STM

Answer 9

• MSM suggests there is one type of STM but evidence from people with amnesia show that this can’t be true
• Shallice & Warrington studied KF who had amnesia & found that short term memory for digits was very poor when read out loud to him but was better when he read digits to himself
• further studies of KF & other people show that there may be another STM for non-verbal sounds
• this is a weakness of MSM because research shows one STM processes visual info whilst other processes auditory info

Question 10

Evaluation: More than one type of rehearsal

Answer 10

• according to MSM the more you rehearse info the more likely it is to transfer to LTM
• Craik & Watkins found that the type of rehearsal is what matters
• they discovered 2 types of rehearsal: maintenance rehearsal maintains info in STM & elaborative rehearsal is need for long-term storage which occurs when you link info to current knowledge
• this is a limitation as the research done can’t be explained by the MSM

Question 11

Evaluation: Artificial materials

Answer 11

• in everyday life we remember useful things e.g. people’s names, faces etc.
• many research studies supporting MSM use materials like digits & letters which are consonant syllables and have no meaning
• they don’t reflect our everyday life and therefore findings can be seen as inaccurate