Coding, Capacity And Duration

Question 1

What does coding refer to in memory?

Answer 1

The specific format in which information is stored

Baddeley (1966) discovered that STM codes acoustically and LTM codes semantically.

Question 2

According to Baddeley (1966), how does STM code information?

Answer 2

Acoustically (by sound)

Participants struggled to recall acoustically similar words immediately.

Question 3

According to Baddeley (1966), how does LTM code information?

Answer 3

Semantically (by meaning)

Participants struggled with semantically similar words after a 20-minute interval.

Question 4

What is capacity in the context of memory?

Answer 4

The measure of how much information a memory store can hold

Jacobs (1887) found the mean digit span for STM was 9.3 items.

Question 5

What did Miller (1956) propose regarding STM capacity?

Answer 5

The ‘Magical Number 7 ± 2’

He noted that ‘chunking’ can extend this limit.

Question 6

What is the believed capacity of LTM?

Answer 6

Unlimited

No measurable limit has ever been identified.

Question 7

What does duration refer to in memory?

Answer 7

The length of time information can be held

Peterson & Peterson (1959) found STM duration is approximately 18 seconds if rehearsal is prevented.

Question 8

What did Bahrick (1975) find regarding LTM duration?

Answer 8

LTM can last a lifetime

Recognition accuracy was 90% after 15 years and 70% after 48 years using yearbook photos.

Question 9

Fill in the blank: Chunking in real life helps remember long phone numbers by reducing them to _______.

Answer 9

Meaningful units

For example, chunking 07123456789 into 07123—456—789.

Question 10

Why is rote-rehearsing sounds less effective for long-term retention than creating mind maps?

Answer 10

Because LTM is semantic

Understanding this explains the effectiveness of linking to meaning.

Question 11

What is a major criticism of Baddeley and Peterson & Peterson studies?

Answer 11

Artificiality of stimuli

Use of word lists and consonant trigrams lacks mundane realism.

Question 12

What is praised about Bahrick’s study?

Answer 12

High ecological validity

It used real-life memories, making findings more generalizable.

Question 13

What methodological issue is associated with Jacobs (1887) research?

Answer 13

Lacked adequate control

Extraneous variables may have confounded results, reducing internal validity.

Question 14

What did Cowan (2001) suggest about STM capacity?

Answer 14

Closer to 4 chunks

This challenges Miller’s ‘7 ± 2’ theory, implying overestimation of innate capacity.