COGNITIVE working memory model

Question 1

the working memory model

who created the theory and when

Answer 1

Baddeley and Hitch (1974)

Question 2

working memory model

explain the model

Answer 2

• argued the model of STM in the MSM was too simplistic
• replaced ‘Short Term’ to ‘Working Memory’
• meant to temporarily store and manipulate information

Question 3

working memory model

explain the central executive

Answer 3

• responsible for monitering and coordinating the slave systems
• decides which information should be attended by the working memoryand where it goes (phonological loop or visuo-spatial sketchpad)
• directs attention to particular activities

Question 4

working memory model

explain the phonological loop

Answer 4

deals with verbal information (spoken and written) and is split into two parts - phonological store and articulatory loop

Question 5

working memory model

explain the phonological store

part of the phonological loop

Answer 5

• linked to speech perception (inner ear) and holds for 1 - 2 seconds
• written words are converted into articulatory (spoken) code before entering the phonological store

Question 6

working memory model

explain the articulatory loop

part of the phonological loop

Answer 6

• linked to speech production (inner voice)
• rehearses information from the phonological store by circulating information around e.g. remembering a telephone number
• also converts written material into articulatory code and moves to the phonological store

Question 7

working memory model

explain the visuo- spatial sketchad

Answer 7

deals with the visual and spatial information (inner eye) to help keep track of where we are in relation to other objects

Question 8

working memory model

explain the episodic buffer

Answer 8

acts as a ‘back-up’ store that communicates with both the LTM and the WM

Question 9

working memory model

when and why was the episodic buffer added

Answer 9

updated by Baddeley in 2000 after the firat model failed to explain experiments

Question 10

working memory model

positive evaluation points

Answer 10

• supporting evidence - KF - brain damage after motorbike accident - STM impared (mainly verbal, visual left unaffected) - shows seperate memory stores
• credibility - numerous experiments by Baddeley (1960s) - carried on and found episodic buffer (2000) - improvements using hypotheticodeductive approach
• useful application - supporting dementia patients with daily routines - no distractions while giving instructions - can’t do two verbal tasks at the same time

Question 11

working memory model

negative evaluation points

Answer 11

• refuting evidence - Lieberman (1980) - blind people have excellent spatial awarness - but never have visual information - visual and spatial may be two seperate stores
• alternative explanation - multi-store model - claims that LTM first enter sensory store - must be paid attention and rehearsed - goes beyond the WMM
• reductionist - isolates two sub-systems - ignores how information is passed from the to components to the LTM