the working memory model

Question 1

WMM summary

Answer 1

made by Baddeley and Hitch - argues that STM/working memory is made up of sub-systems and that info flows backwards and forwards between sub-systems

Question 2

central executive definition

Answer 2

-attention system, controls, organises and coordinates all sensory info, directs info to sub-systems, limited capacity - one strand of info at a time

Question 3

phonological loop definition

Answer 3

articulatory control system = sub-system that enables sub-vocalisations and speech production (inner voice)
phonological store = sub-system that enables speech sounds to be stored for 2 seconds (inner ear)
-coded acoustically

Question 4

visual-spatial sketchpad

Answer 4

stores and manages visual info about objects and their position in relation to other objects, limited capacity - spatial awareness

Question 5

episodic buffer definition

Answer 5

added into model in 2000 - temporary store for info, integrating the visual, spatial and verbal info processed by other stores and maintaining a sense of time sequencing (recording events that are happening) - can be seen as storage component - has limited capacity of 4 chunks

Question 6

Baddeley and Hitch research evidence for WMM - method results and conclusion

Answer 6

devised an experiment to test if there were different sections to STM - used a dual task technique - asked p’s to perform a verbal reasoning task (tests visual-spatial awareness) whilst simultaneously reciting out loud a list of 6 digits - if only one section to STM they’d expect them to fail - found p’s could accurately do both at same time so in conclusion suggests STM has more than 1 store

Question 7

comparisons between MSM and WMM

Answer 7

MSM / WMM
identifies 1 store / identifies 3 subsystems
considers STM and LTM / only considers STM
replies heavily on rehearsal / less emphasis on it
sensory info processed in same way / processed diff
early influential model / still being developed

Question 8

WMM strengths

Answer 8

-scientifically credible evidence - PET scans been conducted while people perform different tasks and found left hemisphere = auditory tasks while right hemisphere = spatial tasks proving its split up - however lacks mundane realism
-research support by Baddeley and Hitch (dual task technique) showing diff parts of STM can be used at same time - however conducted research themselves, may be bias
-detailed model and more important real-life application

Question 9

WMM limitations

Answer 9

-lack of clarity of central executive - cognitive psychologists argue its unsatisfactory and doesnt explain anything, needs to be more specific so WMM isn’t fully explained
-doesnt include LTM when MSM does