Long term memory

Long term memory

1. Information which is remembered for a long time ago

2. Bahrick et al (1975)

   • aim - to study the recall of peoples classmates names
     • laboratory experiement
       • 374 participants aged 17-74
         • tests carried out: 1. free recall of classmates, 2. regonition of 50 participants, 3. Name and photo recognition
           • to check they were right, used year book
             • findings - 34 years ago left school=90% correct names, 48 years ago left school=80% correct names
               • recall can be accurate overtime
   • individual differences - retrograte amnesia - may affect the validity of results - extraneous variables
   • laboratory experiment - high control - more valid BUT lacks ecological validity

3. Duration

   • length of time memory lasts
     • Can potentially be a life time Barick et al

4. capacity

   • how much can be held in memory
     • potentially unlimited

5. Encoding

   • sementic - where the meaning of something is encoded as opposed to the sound Baddeley
   • how information is changed so it an be stored