Memory - Encoding, Storage & Retrieval

Question 1

Encoding

Answer 1

Translation of information so that it can be stored

Question 2

Storage

Answer 2

Information is kept in your brain for a period of time

Question 3

Retrieval

Answer 3

Process of accessing stored information

Question 4

Visual encoding

Answer 4

Memories stored visually

Question 5

Acoustic encoding

Answer 5

Memories stored in terms of sound

Question 6

Semantic encoding

Answer 6

Memories stored according to meaning

Question 7

Tactile encoding

Answer 7

Memories of what things feel like

Question 8

Olfactory encoding

Answer 8

Memories of what things smell like

Question 9

Long Term Memory

Answer 9

• Very large capacity and duration
• Coding is mainly semantic
• Permanent memory

Question 10

Short Term Memory

Answer 10

• Limited capacity and duration
• Info tends to be encoded acoustically
• Temporary store

Question 11

Recognition

Answer 11

Seeing something and identifying/recognising it (different from trying to recall something)

Question 12

Cued recall

Answer 12

You can remember something but only after someone gives you a clue

Question 13

Free recall

Answer 13

Retrieval without clues

Question 14

What was the aim of Alan Baddeley’s study of encoding?

Answer 14

To see if there was a difference in the type of encoding used in STM & LTM

Question 15

What was the method of Alan Baddeley’s study of encoding?

Answer 15

Four groups of participants each had a word list (10 words).
Group A heard 12 sets of 5 words from list A.
After each set of words participants were immediately asked to recall the five words in correct order.
They had a list of the ten words but had to remember the order.
Group B did the same with list B.
Group C did the same with list C but waited 20 mins before recall.
Group D did the same with list D.

Question 16

What was the results of Alan Baddeley’s study of encoding?

Answer 16

Participants did worse with list A then with list B.

They did worse with list C than list D.

Question 17

What was the conclusion of Alan Baddeley’s study of encoding?
(STM)

Answer 17

List A had acoustically similar words but list B had dissimilar words.
Results suggest words are encoded acoustically because the acoustically similar words got muddled up so they must’ve been listening to the sounds of the words.
This applies to STM.

Question 18

What was the conclusion of Alan Baddeley’s study of encoding?
(LTM)

Answer 18

List C had semantically similar words but List D had dissimilar words.
Results suggest info is coded semantically because the similar words got muddled up so they must’ve been focussing on the meaning of the words.
Applies to LTM because the lists were recalled after 20 mins.

Question 19

A strength of Baddeley’s experiment

Answer 19

• It’s a well controlled experiment which enhances validity of results.
• It was a lab experiment so conditions could be controlled & all participants had a hearing test beforehand so hearing wasn’t an EV.
• The level of control means we can be more confident that the results are due to changes in the IV.

Question 20

A weakness of Baddeley’s experiment

Answer 20

• Baddeley may not have been testing LTM at all.
• They only waited 20 mins which may not really be LTM.
• He may not have been testing what he claimed to be.