Flashcards
psychology test working memory
Cards in this deck (23)
- 1Memory is generally thought to be made up of three parts:Sensory Register (your senses)
Short-term memory
Long-term memory - 2MemoryBoth short-term memory (STM) and Long-term memory (LTM) are studied in terms of their ability to encode (make sense of) information, capacity (how much information) and duration (how long information can be stored).
- 3Encoding in short term memoryConrad (1964) suggested that short-term memory codes all information acoustically, that is, according to sound. Visual information is encoded (transformed) to its acoustic (sound/language) codes.
- 4Encoding in short term memoryShulman (1970) disagreed and thought that short-term memory also coded information visually and according to semantics (meaning).
- 5Encoding in short term memoryHeyer and Barrett (1974) suggested that visual images that are difficult to acoustically code may also be stored briefly in short term memory.
- 6Research into encoding in short term memory - Conrad (1964)Participants were presented with a list of consonants.For example: P J N R Z D for about ¾ of a second.Participants were then asked to recall what they had seen.Conrad found that errors of recall were linked to letters which had a similar sound.
Bs were mistaken for Ps 62 times, Vs were mistaken for Ps 83 times but Ss were mistaken for Ps only 2 times. This suggests that visually presented information is encoded according to acoustics/sounds. Conrad referred to these errors as Acoustic Confusion. - 7Research into encoding in short term memory - Shulman (1970)This research suggests that Conrad was incorrect in proposing that all encoding in short term memory was acoustic.
Shulman presented participants visually with lists of 10 words. Recall was then tested using cue or probe words which were one of three types.
Firstly, some of the probe words used were homonyms (words which sound the same but have different meanings, for example: ball and bawl).
Secondly, some probe words were synonyms (different words with same/similar meaning, for example: talk and speak).Thirdly some of the probe words used were identical to the ones on the original stimulus list.Similar numbers of errors of recall from the stimulus list was made for homonym and synonym probes. This suggests that the semantic encoding (meaning) as well as acoustic encoding occurs in the short term memory. - 8Capacity of STMCapacity refers to the amount of information that can be stored in the short-term memory.Miller (1956) suggested that most people store about seven independent or discrete items in short term memory. These items may be numbers, letters or words etc. Miller referred to each of these items as chunks.
- 9Duration of STMPeterson & Peterson suggest that information decays (fades away) rapidly in short term memory unless rehearsal of that information occurs. Reitman (1974) suggested that this short duration is due to displacement; as new information is coming into the short-term memory it is kicking out the previous information due to its limited capacity (7 +/- 2 chunks).
- 10Capacity in long term memoryCapacity (amount of information which may be stored) of the long-term memory is unknown. It is impossible to measure and may be limitless. The brains ability to store information is greater than the worlds most powerful computer memory.
- 11Duration in long term memoryInformation is thought to be stored permanently - for your entire lifetime. It is now thought possible that some memories may be genetically inherited and therefore last longer than a lifetime.
The issue with duration in long-term memory relates to recall and forgetting. - 12Multistore Model - Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)Akinson and Shiffrin suggested that memory was comprised of three separate stores, the Sensory Memory Store, the short-term memory and the long-term memory. Each store had a specific and relatively inflexible function.
- 13Multistore Model - Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)Information is simply rehearsed in the STM and if rehearsed sufficiently is transferred to LTM. Information to be recalled from LTM passes back through STM producing the associated response. This model is represented below as a diagram.
- 14The Multi-store Model .
- 15Evidence for Multi-store model:Primacy-Recency Effect - Atkinson (1970). When presented with lists to remember we recall first and last items best. First items rehearsed into LTM and last items recalled from STM. Ones in middle less likely to be recalled
- 16Evidence for Multi-store model:Brown-Peterson Technique suggests that if rehearsal of items is prevented then information does not enter LTM.
- 17Evidence against Multi-store Model:De Groot (1966) showed how expert chess players had phenomenal STM for chess positions as long as they fitted in with known rules. When pieces were randomly arranged their recall was no better than non chess players therefore STM and LTM may not be so separate and distinct.
Multi-store model is basic and limited in explaining such a complex phenomena as memory. - 18Working Memory - Baddeley & Hitch (1974)An alternative to the Multi-store Model. Emphasises workings of STM. It is a far more complex explanation of STM.
Rather than the STM being a single inflexible store, Baddeley and Hitch suggested that the STM was made up of several subsystems, each having a specialised function. - 19Working Memory - Baddeley & Hitch (1974)They suggested that these subsystems were involved in complex cognitions/thought processes, including analysis and judgements about information input.
Baddeley and Hitch (1974) provide evidence for this by people being able to carry out more than one task at once where both tasks involve STM functions. - 20Working Memory - Baddeley & Hitch (1974)Therefore the STM is more complex and may have several subsystems that can operate simultaneously.
Baddeley & Hitch suggested the existence of several subsystems in STM but they studied the possibility of two in particular which were governed by a central controlling mechanism which they termed the Central Executive .
This fat controller is the boss and supervises and coordinates the other subsidiary systems. The central executive decides which information is attended to and which parts of the working memory to send that information to be dealt with. - 21Working Memory - Baddeley & Hitch (1974)The two subsystems studied were named the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad and the Phonological/Articulatory Loop.
The Visuo-spatial Sketchpad deals with what information looks like and how it is laid out - it deals with visual and spatial information.
The Phonological Loop holds spoken information for about 1.5 to 2 seconds. Written words must be converted to spoken words to enter phonological loop. The Articulatory loop rehearses the spoken/acoustic information from the phonological store and also converts written material to acoustic material so that the phonological loop can deal with it. - 22Working Memory - Baddeley & Hitch (1974)There is little empirical evidence to support the Working memory Model but the recognition of the complexity of the STM makes sound theoretical sense. However some brain damaged patients appear to suffer impairment to some functions of STM and not others (Shallice & Warrington '1974) therefore suggesting existence of several specialised systems within STM.
- 23Working Memory - Baddeley & Hitch (1974)
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- Flashcards on psychology test working memory, created by Sophie Rew on 05/11/2015.
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