Working memory model evaluation (16?)

Question 1

Strength 1

Answer 1

Convincing research to support it

From Logie’s dual task study (1986)

Who found that participants performance on tasks was good when the tasks used different systems.

E.g. learning a list of words using the phological loop followed by a distraction task of learning images using the visuo-spatial sketch pad.

However, if 2 tasks required the use of the same system performance on one or both tasks would be poor

This suggests STM is made up of different stores which can perform different tasks at the same time; something which the MSM cannot explain

Question 2

Strength 2

Answer 2

Convincing evidence to support it

From Shallice and Warrington (1970) case study of KF

Who found that, after his accident, his memory of auditory information was worse than his memory of visual information

This suggests that there are 2 separated stores for visual information (visuo-spatial sketchpad) and auditory information (phonological loop) and they are independent of each other as one can be damaged without affecting the other

However, evidence from brain-damaged patients can be unreliable as it relates to unique, individual cases

Question 3

Strength 3

Answer 3

Convincing research to support the existence of the central executive

From Braver et al (1997)

Carried out brain scans on patients whilst giving them tasks involving the central executive. They found a lot of activity in the prefrontal cortex, and saw this activity increased as the task became more difficult

This suggests that as the demands on the central executive increase, it has to work harder to do its job

This research provides evidence that the central executive has a physical area in the brain

Question 4

Limit

Answer 4

Lack of clarity over the central executive

Cognitive psychologists have said that the central executive is unsatisfactory and that it doesn’t explain anything

Baddeley (2003) agreed this was the least understood component of the model and needs to be more clearly defined, than simply as an attention system

This means that the WMM has not been fully explained