Working Memory Model (Baddeley and Hitch 1974) Flashcards
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
The central executive
The central executive has a supervisory role
and it can control the attentional process so it can change concentration and divide and switch attention
it monitors incoming data and makes decisions and allocate tasks to the subsystems which can’t do anything by themselves
It doesn’t store any information so it has a limited capacity
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
Visuo spacial sketchpad
VSS temporary stores visual and/or spatial information
has a limited capacity of 3 to 4 objects and
the visual cache = stores visual data
inner Scribe = records arrangements of objects in the visual field
allows rehearsal of Visual/spatial information to maintain it in the visual cache
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
phonological loop
It deals with auditory information
the inner ear= stores auditory information
inner voice = allows maintenance rehearsal in the loop format so it stays in the inner ear until it is needed
capacity of 2 seconds worth of what you can say (response in a convo)
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
Epposodic buffer (baddeley 2000)
this was added by baddeley in 2000
This system combines all of the information from the other system together into one memory
which makes it easier to transport to the LTM or easier to Decay
capacity of 4 chunks of info
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
paragraph 1 + intro
The working model of memory consists of four systems:
the central executive which controls attention and concentration and allocates tasks to the 2 substores:
the visuo spatial sketchpad which stores visual and spatial information
and the phonological loop which deals with auditory information
these types of information are both sent to the episodic buffer which combines them into one memory which can either be transported to the LTM store or the memory can decay
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
paragraph 1: evidence liberman
Liberman 1980 provides evidence against WMM as it points out that blind people have good spatial awareness so the VSS should be two separate sub-stores for both visual and spatial
this is evidence against the VSS and the structure of WMM
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
Paragraph 2: how good is the research
PET scans an objective scientific method
was used and showed that the frontal Cortex was active when the central executive was in use
while the right optical lobe was active when the VSS was in use
this proves objectively that there is distinct separate components of STM and due to it being objective and scientific as there are little to no demand characteristics and other extraneous variables
it shows it has good research
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
paragraph 3: comparison to MSM +/-
WMM is a more in-depth look at STM with different types of information such as auditory and sensory
while MSM is a simplistic look at memory as a whole as it includes STM LTM and Sensory memory and how information is transported and lost between these stores
The four therefore while less in-depth than WMM, MSM does look at memory as a whole and not only stm
this makes MSM more valuable as a theory explaining memory overall and has a much wider use to psychologists who study memory as a whole
rather than WMM which would only be able to aid psychologists who are only studying STM
Therefore making MSM the better theory on memory than WMM
Whereas WMM is a better Theory for psychologists who are studying STM due to going into much more depth and detail on it
Meaning it’s more useful to those psychologists then the limited detail MSM
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
paragraph 4: conclusion and aplication
In conclusion WMM is a very useful Theory for studying STM
as it does so in depth and with including different types of information such as spatial and auditory
This theory can be applied to helping dyslexic people revise
by changing the type of information as dyslexia either effects the VSS or the PL
for example by changing between Reading information and listening to information
so either record yourself saying the information and then replay that recording to revise
or transcribe an (for example) audiobook on the subject then
highlighters may be used to help the information to be processed more effectively
This change in the type of information allows for the effects of dyslexia on the STM to be bypassed
WMM (baddeley + hitch 1974)
evaluate order
paragraph 1: outline the stores and sub stores and their function > liberman 1980 blind people are evidence against the structure of the WMM
paragraph 2: p e t scans show that the sub stores of stm are separate PT scans are objective scientific and reduce the effects of demand characteristics and other extraneous variables making it good research
paragraph 3: compare it to MSM
conclude that MSM is better due to it being a complete Outlook on memory as a whole and not just STM
Paragraph 4: conclude that it’s a very good in-depth look at STM and uses different tyoes of information usefull for psychologists studying STM in depth
Aplication: change the type of information to bypass the effects of dyslexia on the WMM and aid revision
