Working memory model Flashcards
Central executive
Responsible for problem solving & decision making - directing the correct slave system to a particular task
Attention system as it decides which information should be given attention
Can code information from all senses
V limited capacity and must pass info to a slave system to deal with new incoming info
Phonological loop
Processes auditory info
Codes info in an auditory form and has a limited capacity
Split into 2 sub-systems: store which understands and stores sounds we hear in a speech based form
Articulatory control process which is a verbal rehearsal device used to rehearse words seen or heard
Visuo-spattial sketchpad
Processes information in a visual and spatial form
Codes info in a visual form and has a limited capacity
Split into 2 sub-systems: visual cache - temporary visual stored for info of things we see
Inner scribe - visual rehearsal device used to rehearse spatial information about how objects relate to each other
Episodic buffer
Limited storage device that stores information in the order which we learn it so that whole information can be brought together
Temporary store for info
Links WM to LTM
Logie’s dual task study
Participants asked to recall list of words from 1 of 2 ways - either using images to visualise words or using maintenance rehearsal
Distracted by either SAME method or OPPOSITE method
Logie findings
Participants recalled more words correctly when they were distracted with opposite method as the 2 tasks used different systems
Fewer words recalled when distracted with SAME system as 2 tasks made use of same system
Logie conc
STM divided into multiple systems
work well when they perform 2 tasks which use different systems at the same time, less well when 2 or more tasks used the same systems at the same time
Logie methodological evaluation 1
Limit is that is has an inability to clearly operationalise the DV
Which is when it is impossible to make the DV objectively measurable, decreasing internal validity
Bc the experiment assumes the tasks participants had to do, made use of the different slave systems
as there is no way to be sure of this, its impossible to be certain that the WMM is a valid model of human memory
Methodological evaluation 2
Low mundane realism
Which is when the procedure doesnt seem mundane or like real life, decreasing external validity
As the procedure asked participants to recall artificial info in the form of random words and images
This means that the study may not tell us how STM remembers more meaningful info in real life
Ethical evaluation 1
Has informed consent
Which is when participants are informed of the full aims and procedures before agreeing to take part
In the study, participants were fully informed of all aspects of the procedure before signing their agreement to participate
Ethical evaluation 2
May have caused psychological harm
This is when the procedure causes mental distress which participants have the right not to experience
In memory experiments such as this, participants may leave feeling that they have performed poorly, affecting their self-esteem
