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AQA Psychology - Memory!

Alec Driscoll English 31 cards

Cards in this deck (31)

  1. 1Define the term ‘coding’ & state an example!The way Information is changed so it can be stored in memory (the format which it is stored.) E.g. the coding of Long Term Memory is Semantic
  2. 2Define the term ‘capacity’ & name an exampleThe amount of information a store can hold at any one time. E.g. the capacity of Short Term Memory is 7+/-2
  3. 3Define the term ‘duration’ and give an example!The length of time Information can be held in Memory. E.g. the duration of the Sensory Register is limited.
  4. 4Outline a piece of research that demonstrates the capacity and duration of the Sensory RegisterSperling (1960)
    Aim : Investigate the capacity & duration of the sensory register
    Method : Participants flashed 3x4 grid of letters onto a screen for 50 milliseconds. They were then asked to recall as many letters as they could remember. Participants then asked to recall single rows of letters when particular tones heard (high tone for top row, medium tone for middle row etc.)
    Results : When asked to recall as many letters as possible, participants recalled approx 4 letters. When asked to recall single rows of letters, they recalled an average of 3 items. However, items decayed rapidly.
    Conclusion : Capacity of sensory register is a minimum 4 items and duration is between 250-500 milliseconds (about 1/5 or 1/2 of a second). It is thought image of each items fades during 50ms & the time it takes to report back recalled items so it could be much larger than 4 items.
  5. 5Outline A Piece Of Research That Demonstrates The Capacity Of Short Term MemoryMiller (1956)
    Aim : To investigate capacity of STM
    Method : In the study Miller used the digit span technique, which consists of participants hearing a list of numbers and immediately trying to recall them in the correct order.
    Results : Miller reviewed psychological research & concluded that span of STM is 7+/-2. Also found that if people chunk things together they can remember more. E.g. Mobile number is 11 digits, could be split into 3 chunks leaving more memory capacity available
    Conclusion : Capacity Of STM is 7+/-2
  6. 6Outline a piece of research that demonstrates duration of Short Term MemoryPeterson & Peterson (1959)
    Aim : Investigate duration of STM
    Method : Participants (24 undergraduate students) presented with consonant trigram (i.e. 3 letters which do not form a recognisable word, such as CPW or NGV). Rehearsal prevented by asking them to count back in 3’s from a specified number. After intervals of 3,6,9,12,15 or 18 seconds to over 30 seconds they were asked to stop counting and repeat the trigram.
    Results : After 3 secs delay 80% recall, 18 secs 10% recall, 30 secs no Trigrams were recalled
    Conclusions : Duration of STM is 30 secs or less if maintenance rehearsal is blocked (evidence for MSM). Info fades from STM because of trace decay.
  7. 7Outline a piece of research for duration of Long Term MemoryBahrick Et Al (1975)
    Aim : Investigate length of time memories can be held in LTM.
    Method : Investigators interviewed graduates from a high school in America over a period of 50 years. 392 graduates shown a set of photographs from high school year book and split into 2 groups :
    1) Photo recognition group : Participants given list of names & asked to select name that matched person in the photo
    2) Recall group : Participants asked to name people in photos without a list of possible names.
    Results :
    1) Photo recognition group :
    15 years 90% able to accurately match correct name to person in photo.
    48 years - 70% able to accurately match correct name to person in photo
    2) Recall group :
    15 years - 60% could accurately name people in photos.
    48 years - 30% could accurately name people in photos
    Conclusion : duration of LTM can last for a long time - it is at least 34 years
  8. 8Outline a piece of research for coding in Short Term Memory and Long Term MemoryBaddeley (1966)
    Aim : Investigate coding in LTM & STM
    Method : Participants (British Housewives) divided into 4 different conditions, shown list of 10 words that were either :
    A) Acoustically similar
    B) Acoustically dissimilar
    C) Semantically similar
    D) Semantically dissimilar
    In STM study participants asked to immediately recall the words they heard in correct order. In LTM study, participants given 20 min interval to complete another task, then asked to recall the words in correct order.
    Results : Recall much worse for group A compared to group B in LTM study, and Recall much worse for group C compared to group D in STM study.
    Conclusions : Coding in LTM mainly semantic (LTM gets distracted by semantic similarities & muddles them up - why recall is worse for semantically similar words). Coding in STM acoustic (STM confused by similar sound - why recall is worse for acoustically similar words).
  9. 9Outline how the Multi Store Model Of Memory suggests information is stored in Long Term MemoryAtkinson & Shiffrin’s (1968) MSM makes distinction between separate stores of SR, STM & LTM.
    Model suggests info stored in LTM in following way :
    1) Info reaches senses from environment & enters memory system through SR where it registers for only very brief periods.
    2) Some of the info from SR picked up by recess of attention & passes through to STM.
    3) Info can be kept in STM through maintenance rehearsal (repeating info to store it for limited period of time) allows material to remain in STM, which only has limited capacity & duration.
    4) If we think about meaning of info in STM - process known as elaborating rehearsal - info becomes coded semantically & passes to long term store, which has unlimited capacity
  10. 10Outline the Key claims of the Multi Store Model Of Memory!1) Each store unitary : just one store with no separate parts
    2) Each store separate to others. We know they are separate because their features are very different to each other in terms of capacity, duration and coding. Suggests one store can be damaged while the other is not
  11. 11Outline the characteristics of the Sensory Register!Capacity : Very Large
    Duration : Limited
    Coding : Unprocessed Form
  12. 12Outline the characteristics of the Short Term Memory!Capacity : 7+/-2
    Duration : 18-30 Seconds
    Coding : Acoustic (processed through sound)
  13. 13Outline the characteristics of the Long Term Memory!Capacity : Unlimited
    Duration : Lifelong
    Coding : Semantic
  14. 14State one strength of the Multi Store Model Of Memory (Claim that the STM and LTM is separate is supported by research). (PEE)P : Strength of the MSM is that it is supported by real life case study of Clive Wearing
    E : Clive Wearing’s memory ‘restarted’ once time span of his STM elapsed (30 secs), shows his STM is working. However, his LTM is damaged as he could not recall some long term memories, e.g. receiving musical education or names of his children
    E : These findings support that the model is a valid explanation of memory as they suggest that STM & LTM are separate stores as MSM claims & one store can be damaged while other remains intact
  15. 15State one strength of the Multi Store Model Of Memory (Claim that STM & LTM are separate supported by research from Glanzer & Cunitz) (PEE)P : Strength of the MSM is research supports STM & LTM are separate stores
    E : For example, Glanzer & Cuntiz (1966) asked participants to remember a list of words. Found that when Participants were asked to recall the words, tended to recall words from the beginning and the end the most. Words at the start linked to LTM (primary effect) & words at end are linked to STM (recency effect).
    E : This is a strength of the MSM as it demonstrates that STM & LTM are separate stores as mode, claims & therefore suggests MSM is a valid explanation of how Memory works
  16. 16State one Weakness Of the Multi Store Model Of Memory! (Claim that stores are unitary is not supported by research) (PEE)P : Limitation Of MSM is it is not fully supported by real life case study of Clive Wearing
    E : Clive Wearing has some long term memories but not others e.g. cannot recall having received musical education (episodic Memory) but can still play piano (procedural memory)
    E : Findings do not support that Model is a valid explanation of memory because they suggest that LTM is not a unitary store like the MSM claims.
  17. 17State one limitation of the Multi Store Model Of Memory (Flash bulb memories) (PEE)P : Limitation Of MSM is it overemphasises role of rehearsal in forming Long - Term Memories.
    E : Many Psychologists believe rote rehearsal too simple a process to account for transfer of info from STM to LTM & Transfer often occurs with no rehearsal. E.g. ‘flashbulb memories’ (vivid, highly detailed memories of surprising events) can be recalled very easily without rehearsal. (An example of flashbulb memory could be when Princess Diana died, or when Twin Towers were hot - both surprising and important events that individuals may be able to recall in detail without rehearsal).
    E : This is limitation as it would seem material does not just pass from STM to LTM by being rehearsed in way the MSM suggests, therefore suggesting MSM is not valid explanation of how Memory works
  18. 18What does the Working Memory Model suggest about Short Term Memory?That STM is a dynamic processor of different types of info using sub-units coordinated by a central decision making unit
  19. 19Outline the features of Working Memory!1) STM is not unitary but consists of separate components
    2) Each separate part / component processes + stores different types of info
    3) Each component contains different types of memory codes
    4) Each has limited storage capacity
  20. 20Describe the Working Memory Model!The WMM, proposed by Baddeley & Hitch, disputes Atkinson & Shiffrin’s Claim that STM is a unitary store
    The model is a development of the MSM + puts forward a system involving active processing & Short-term storage of info
    The models suggest there are four main components of STM :
    1) Central Executive
    2) Phonological Loop (made up of articulatory loop & phonological store), sometimes referred to as the control process
    3) Visuo-spatial scratchpad (sketchpad)
    4) Episodic Buffer
  21. 21Outline the Central Executive!Central Executive is The organiser Of STM. Attends all incoming info, temporarily stores info & then decides what pieces of info to send to the different components (‘slave systems’). Has limited capacity & can process info from any mode (codes info in all Sensory forms). However, it can only deal with one type of info at a time, as it has very limited storage capacity
    Other functions include calling up info from LTM & merging info from slave systems and LTM
  22. 22Outline the Phonological Loop (PL)PL deals with auditory info (e.g. coding is acoustic) & preserves order in which the info arrives. Active during verbal tasks e.g. learning / repeating words, speaking & reading. PL also has limited capacity
    PL is sub-divided into :
    1) Phonological Store - stores words you hear
    2) Articulatory Loop - allows maintenance rehearsal (repeating words or sounds in a ‘loop’ to keep them in Working Memory while they are needed). Capacity of this ‘loop’ is believed to be two seconds’ worth of what you can say
  23. 23Outline the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (VSS) !VSS stores/manipulates visual + spatial info. Involved in pattern recognition & perception of movement. Deals with what times look like + physical relationship between them e.g. where a lamp is in a room in relation to the window
    Active during visual tasks e.g. forming image of something + answering questions about it, mentally counting windows of a house, watching a DVD & Reading. VSS has limited capacity which is about 3 or 4 objects (Baddeley, 2003)
    VSS is sub-divided into :
    1) Visual Cache - stores visual data
    2) Inner scribe - records arrangement of objects in visual field
  24. 24Outline the Episodic Buffer!Original Working Memory Model was updated by Baddeley (2000) & an additional component was added called the Episodic Buffer
    Episodic Buffer has limited capacity + acts as temporary ‘backup’ store (it is the storage component of the Central Executive). Responsible for integrating + manipulating material from Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visual Spatial Sketchpad & LTM & processes Info that requires two different senses at the same time e.g. sound & visual when watching TV or when recalling memory of a story or scene from a film. Also makes sense of time-sequencing (like recording events that are happening).
    One of its important functions is to recall material from LTM & integrate it into components of STM when Working Memory requires it
  25. 25Outline the Proactive Interference Explanation for forgetting!Forgetting occurs when older (already stored) memories disrupt recall of newer memories. Degree of forgetting is greater when memories are similar. (Pro in this Context means Working forwards, from old to new)
    For example, teacher has learned so many names in the past, she as difficult remembering names of her current class
  26. 26Outline the Retroactive interference explanation for forgetting!Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt recall of of older memories already stored (retro, meaning working backwards). Degree of forgetting greater when memories are similar
    E.g. teacher has learned so many new names, she has difficulty remembering names of students from last year
  27. 27Outline how the WMM is different to the MSM!STM not unitary. Also idea that you can do two tasks at some time using different components, but not two tasks that require same component. This is also known as dual tasks
  28. 28Describe a strength of the WMM (How it is supported by research from Baddeley at al 1973) (PEE)Strength of WMM is that it is supported by research using dual task technique. Baddeley et al (1973) found participants could successfully track spot of light + complete verbal tasks at same time (using VSS & PL). However, participants less successful when asked to track spot of light + describe letter F (both tasks use VSS). Supports the WMM as valid explanation of memory as it supports claim STM not unitary, but consists of separate components that have limited capacity
  29. 29Describe a strength of the WMM! (How it is supported by PET scans) (PEE)Strength of WMM is it is supported from research using PET scans. PET scans have shown brain activity occurring in different areas when individuals are carrying out different tasks (e.g. when doing visual & audio tasks different areas of Brian are activated). This activity corresponds with four systems model proposes. Strength because it provides evidence to suggest STM does have different components - as Working Model maintains
  30. 30Describe a limitation of WMM (How little is known about central Executive) (PEE)Limitation of WMM is very little research has been conducted on CE, therefore limited evidence for its role in STM. CE extremely hard to study, therefore cannot be sure it does monitor + coordinate slave systems in way model suggests. Limitation as claims made by Baddeley & Hitch about CE may not be valid
  31. 31Describe limitation of WMM! (Fails to take memory for music into account) (PEE)Limitation of WMM is it fails to take memory for music into account. Model would suggests listening to instrumental music should impair performance on other acoustic tasks e.g. speaking, yet does not seem to be case. Limitation as current model not complete or fully developed. However, Baddeley + Hitch acknowledge this & are continually adapting model in light of new research

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Useful Revision Cards For The Topic Of Memory!
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Alec Driscoll
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