Tulving (1972)

Question 1

who was Tulving?

Answer 1

One of the first psychologists to realise that the multi store model view of LTM was too simplistic.

Question 2

what did Tulving propose?

Answer 2

The idea that there are at least two LTM systems containing different types of information.

Question 3

what were the two types of declarative memory Tulving discovered?

Answer 3

-semantic memory
-episodic memory

Question 4

what is procedural memory?

Answer 4

Our knowledge of how to do things including our memories of learned skills.
This is usually an unconscious recall.

Question 5

what is declarative memory?

Answer 5

This LTM involves conscious recollection of particular facts and events.
this is usually a conscious recall.

Question 6

what is episodic memory?

Answer 6

Personal events including memory of when events occurred and people, objects, places and behaviours involved.
-these memories have to be recalled consciously and with effort.

Question 7

What is semantic memory?

Answer 7

Knowledge of the world including facts and out knowledge of what words/concepts mean.
-memories usually need to be recalled deliberately.

Question 8

how are episodic and semantic stores different?

Answer 8

They are qualitatively different in terms on:
-nature of stored memories.
-time referencing.
-retrieval and forgetting.

Question 9

what is the nature of memory for semantic memory?

Answer 9

Represents a mental encyclopaedia.
-Stored words, facts, rules and meaning as an organised body of knowledge.

Question 10

What is the nature of memory for episodic memory?

Answer 10

Shows a mental diary
-Receives and stores information about experiences or events.

Question 11

What is the time referencing of semantic memory?

Answer 11

Independent on time referencing.
input can be fragmented.
detached without any temporal link.

Question 12

What is the time referencing on episodic memory?

Answer 12

Dependent on time referencing.
input can be continuous.
memories have a link to a time they happened.

Question 13

How is the retrieval and forgetting of semantic memory?

Answer 13

Retrieval is possible without learning.
it is not dependent on cues.
memory trace is more robust and will not change.

Question 14

How is the retrieval and forgetting of episodic memory?

Answer 14

Retrieved through cues which are encoded at the time the even occurred.
memory trace can be changed.

Question 15

can episodic memory operate without semantic memory?
why?

Answer 15

Episodic memory is unlikely to operate without semantic memory as we need to be able to draw on previous knowledge of objects, people and events that occur in order to understand them.

Question 16

what evidence backs up Tulving’s theory?

Answer 16

-Clive wearing supports Tulving’s ideas of different types of LTM.
-He had damage caused to his hippocampus so shouldn’t have any LTM, but was still able to play piano and remember his wife.
-This verifies that LTM is split into separate stores.

Question 17

Where can Tulving’s theory be applied to?(1)

Answer 17

-Can be applied to educational settings.
-LTM isn’t just about rehearsal as understanding is also important in forming different LTM.
-Therefore teachers could be advised that rote learning is not the better form of learning and students need to understand what the information means or learn the rules involved in order to understand.

Question 18

Where can Tulving’s theory be applied to? (2)

Answer 18

-This theory can help eye witness testimony.
-Episodic memories can be distorted by similar info in retrieval
-Therefore this can help police officers by advising them to question witnesses soon after the event before news of other peoples accounts affect their episodic memory.

Question 19

What is the contrasting research to this theory?

Answer 19

-The theory is too descriptive.
-It states what each type of memory is, but doesn’t really explain why or how we make it a memory.
-Therefore it is limited in explaining the occurrence of LTM.

Question 20

How is this theory not useful?(1)

Answer 20

-The two stores are hard to test separately.
-The two stores rely on each other, so a list of words to test semantic memory could also use episodic memory too.
-Therefore it is difficult to verify separate stores in experimental evidence.

Question 21

How is this theory useful?

Answer 21

-Supported research uses PET scans.
-PET scans involve injecting a person with a radioactive tracer to reassure brain functioning when completing a task.
-this supports the credibility of there being separate stores as it will show activity in two different areas of the brain.

Question 22

How is this theory not useful?(2)

Answer 22

-Supporting research uses word lists.
-Semantic memories are often tested through the use of word lists
-Word lists are not everyday memory tasks so it will mean that these studies lack ecological validity.

Question 23

How does Clive’s recognition of his wife relate to the semantic and episodic memory in Tulving’s model?

Answer 23

-Clive’s ability to recognise/express love for his wife indicates his semantic memory is still intact
-episodic memory can be seen as his wife is personal to him