Working Memory Model

Working Memory Model

1. Baddeley and Hitch

   • Critisized
     • STM = not a single store
     • MSM didn't describe structure
   • believed STM was more complex

2. focuses on the STM

   • says it has ongoing processes

3. Working Memory

   • Part of the memory that is active at any one time
     • Mental Maths

4. Evidence

   • Parts of the WMM
     • Phonological loop
       • Baddeley
       • pps recalled more one syllable words than pollysylable
       • Results changed when they had to repeat 'the'
     • Visuo-spatial
       • Baddeley
       • pps could not perform 2 visual tasks simultaneously
       • could perform visual and verbal
     • Central Executive
       • Bunge
       • Brain activated when doing 2 task same as doing one
     • Episodic Buffer
       • Baddeley
       • PPs recall multiple sentences but not words that don't relate
   • Case Studies
     • KF
       • LTM = intact
       • STM = impaired
       • worse at auditory than visual memory
         • phonological loop = damaged

5. Evaluation

   • Strengths
     • lots of research evidence
     • Better explanation of immediate memory store
     • focus on process not structure
   • Limitations
     • central executive is vague
     • Lots of case study evidence
       • generalisable