Topic 1: Multi-Store Model Flashcards
Who created the Multi Store Model of Memory
Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)
what is the duration, encoding and capacity of sensory memory
duration: 0.5 seconds
encoding: modality specific
capacity: unlimited
what is the duration, encoding and capacity of the short term memory?
duration: 18-30 seconds
encoding: acoustic
capacity: 5-9 items
what is the duration, encoding and capacity of the long term memory?
duration: unlimited
encoding: semantically
capacity: unlimited
what are all 5 processes in the multi store memory model
environmental stimuli, attention, maintenance rehearsal, elaborative rehearsal, retrieval
describe the attention process
when attention is paid to stimuli from our surroundings, it is transferred to our short term memory from our sensory memory
describe the maintenance rehearsal process
maintenance rehearsal is the process of verbally or mentally repeating information in order for it to remain in our short term memory for more than 30 seconds
describe the elaborative rehearsal process
elaborative rehearsal is the process of giving a memory a meaning in order for it to be transferred to the long term memory
describe the retrieval process
retrieval is when memory is brought back from our long term memory to our short term memory
give one research evidence for duration of the sensory store
- Walsh and Thompson (1978)
- flashed images of the letter O twice with a very brief interval
- recorded the interval where participants believed there was a continuous stimulus
- average duration of 500 milliseconds and decreases with age
- proves duration of sensory memory is 0.5 seconds
give one research evidence for capacity of the sensory store
- Sperling (1960)
- displayed grid of 12 symbols
- asked participants to recall as many as they could
- participants reported being able to see more letters but not enough time to report
- supports unlimited capacity of sensory memory as it shows awareness but not attentiveness
give one research evidence for duration of the short term memory
- Peterson and Peterson (1959)
- Nonsense trigrams read to participants
- participants then asked to count backwards in 3s from a large random 3 digit number
- after 3 seconds delay there was an 80% recall
- after 18 seconds delay there was a 10% recall
give one research evidence for encoding of the short term memory
- Baddeley (1966)
- gave participants 4 sets of words
- similar sounding, different sounding, similar meaning, different meaning
- when asked to recall immediately, pps made more mistakes on similar sounding words
- supports how storing of STM is acoustic
give one research evidence for capacity of the short term memory
- Jacobs (1887)
- presented increasingly long lists of numbers or letters to participants
- participants had to immediately recall them in the right order
- Jacob found capacity for numbers was 9.3 items and letters was 7.3 items
give one research evidence for duration of the long term memory
- Bahrick et Al (1975)
- used a sample of 392 american students aged between 17-74
- time since leaving high school was up to 48 years
- participants asked to identify former classmates from a set of 50 photos
- recognition group was 90% accurate after 14 years and 60% after 47 years
give one research evidence for encoding of the long term memory
- Baddeley (1966)
- gave participants 4 sets of words
- similar sounding, different sounding, similar meaning, different meaning
- when asked to recall immediately, pps made more mistakes on similar meaning words
- supports how storing of STM is semantic
give one research evidence for capacity of the long term memory
- Wagenaar(1986)
- created a diary of 2400 events over 6 years
- tested himself on recall of events rather than dates and found he had excellent recall
- suggests capacity of LTM is extremely huge (unlimited)
what is Glanzer and Cunitz’ study
- Primary and Recency effect
- participants were presented with lists of words
- after list was finished, participants were asked to recall as many words as they could in any order
- found that probability of recalling a word depended on its serial position in the list.
- words at the start and the ends of the list were more often recalled while words in the middle were forgotten
evaluate the strength of research for the multistore memory model AND a counterpoint
P. there is research to support explanation
E. Glanzer and Cunitz found primary and recency effect
E. early words = STM and end words = LTM
L. therefore MSM has credible evidence to support it
C. however there’s methodological flaws with the study
E. study wasn’t a realistic measurement of memory
E. therefore the study may lack ecological validity
L. the flaws can question the level of support the research provides to the MSM
evaluate the strength of naturalistic research for the multistore memory model
P. there is naturalistic research to support explanation
E. patient HM had severe epilepsy and underwent major surgery
E. he was unable to transfer information from STM to LTM, unable to form new memories
L. proves that stm and ltm are separate stores, adds credibility to the model
evaluate the limitation of alternative theories for the multistore memory model
P. there are alternative theories which may explain the features better
E. the working memory model is more recent
E. takes into account separate components of each store and is not oversimplified
L. model is well supported and suggests that MSM is too simple
evaluate the practical applications for the multi store memory model
P. there is practical application of the MSM
E. original suggestion that memory is made up of stores
E. led to other psychologists looking at better models
L. suggests that MSM has been useful to psychology
evaluate the theoretical flaws for the MSM
P. there are theoretical problems with the MSM
E. it emphasises structure of memory and tends to neglect the processes
E. we learn alot about encoding, duration and capacity but not alot about elaborative/maintenance rehearsal
L. MSM is lacking major information which reduces validity and credibility as a theory for memory
