The Multi Store Model of Memory

Question 1

The Multi Store Model of Memory

Answer 1

Attkinson and Schffrin 1968

Question 2

The Multi-Store Model of Memory

Answer 2

• Atkins and Schifri proposed that memory consists of three kinds of memory stores.
• Data - - Sensory - -STM – Rehearsal - LTM

Question 3

The Multi-Store Model of Memory

Answer 3

LOOK AT FLOW GRAPH

• STM: limited capacity duration
• we rehearse the number then it will last longer than 18–30 seonds
• Structural model explains how information passes through our memory in a linearway

Question 4

Information is received by the sensory stores

Answer 4

• Some information is attended to and passed to the Short Term Memory
• Some information is rehearsed and transferred into the Long-Term Memory
• Information in the STM that isn’t rehearsed is forgotton
• Information in the LTM that seems to be forgotten may be there but can’t be accessed due to interference and need a cue to recall

Question 5

Key features of the MSM

Answer 5

~ 3 different types of memory
- Model describes these as ‘memory stores’
- SM, STM & LTM
~ Any stimulus you come across has been and one or more of these stores - in this sequence!
~ Each store retains a different amount of info, in a different way, and for a different length of time

Question 6

Key Features of the MSM

Answer 6

DURATION
- how long this store can retain info for
CAPACITY
- how much info this store can retain
ENCODING
- the form in which the memory is retained
- SM: sensory memory
- STM: Short-TErm Memory
- LTM: Long-Term Memory

Question 7

According to the multi-store model of memory:

Answer 7

• For us to remember a piece of info we need to:
  1. Pay attention to it
  This gets it from the SM to the STM
  2. Rehearse it
• Maintenance rehearsal keeps it in our STM
• Elaborative rehearsal can get it to our LTM

Don’t have to rehearse it to remember it

Question 8

Evaluation of the Multi-store model of memory

Answer 8

STRENGTH

• A strength of the MSM is that it distinguishes between Short-Term and Long-Term stores in terms of capacity, duration and encoding.
• Evidence supporting the distinction between STM and LTM comes from case studies of people with brain damage. HM had a normal STM but defocots on the LTM
• Baddeley supports this
• Peterson & Peterson
• Bahrick
• Miller & Jacobs

Question 9

Evaluation of the Multi-store model of memory

Answer 9

• Further evidence of separate stores comes from research into the Primacy and Recency effect.
• Murdock (1962)
• Therefore the suggestion that STM and LTM are separate appears to be an accurate one.

Question 10

Murdock (1962)

Answer 10

presented participants with a list of words. Words at the beginning of the list were more likely to be recalled than those in the middle (the PRIMACY effect - IN THE LT). Similarly, those at the end of the list were also more likely to be recalled than those in the middle (the RECENCY effect - in the ST).

Question 11

Weaknesses of the multi-store model theory:

Answer 11

• The model places too much emphasis on rehearsal - we sometimes learn information without rehearsing it. (flashbulb memories) Therefore this suggestion is too simplistic.
• Also the model can be criticised for being oversimplified because research has shown that there are different types of STM study KF (could recall visually presented words but not verbally presented words.)
• KF: motorbike accident had a traumatic brain injury
• issues with short term memory

Question 12

Evidence of LTM and Components

Answer 12

There is evidence that LTM is made up of several components, i.e. Declarative memory and procedural memory so stating that there is one store, as suggested by the multi-store model is too simplistic.