Memory Models

Question 1

Atkinson and Shiffrins Multi Store Memory Model

Answer 1

• sensory memory
• attention
• Short term memory
• rehearsal
• long term memory
• retrieval
• short term memory

Question 2

multi store memory model - 3 stores

Answer 2

• sensory memory
• short term memory
• long term memory

Question 3

sensory memory

Answer 3

• takes in all environmental cues
• holds information for less than 1 second
• has a large capacity to store information
• selective attention occurs here
• relevant information is passed onto the STM

Question 4

short term memory

Answer 4

• perception occurs here
• holds 7 +- 2 pieces of information
• holds information for around 30 seconds
• if information is chunked, capacity increases
• rehearsed information is encoded to LTM

Question 5

short term memory - capacity

Answer 5

7 +/- 2 pieces of information

Question 6

short term memory - duration

Answer 6

30 seconds

Question 7

how do we increase information we can hold in short term memory

Answer 7

chunking

Question 8

how is information transferred from short term memory to long term memory

Answer 8

encoded through rehearsal

Question 9

long term memory

Answer 9

• decodes information back to short term memory
• has an unlimited capacity
• holds an infinite amount of information
• rehearsed and encoded skills are stored as motor programmes

Question 10

long term memory - duration

Answer 10

infinite

Question 11

long term memory - capacity

Answer 11

unlimited

Question 12

how is information transferred from short term memory to long term memory

Answer 12

retrieval via decoding

Question 13

advantages of multi store memory model

Answer 13

• simplifies memory process to aid understanding
• explains how an individual can deal with large amounts of information
• gives a realistic answer as to how an individual deals with or filters lots of information that they take in
• explains how those with brain damage can suffer from dysfunctional memory or explains how people with memory conditions can remember things from a long time ago but not what just happened
• explains how an individual can perform a skill they haven’t done in a long time
• it is true that info is repeated or chunked is more likely to be stored in LTM
• it is true that some info is difficult to decode/retrieve from LTM to STM
• explains how information that isn’t rehearsed gets forgotten

Question 14

disadvantages of multi store model

Answer 14

• too simple
• does not explain why and individual may remember 1 type of info but not another
• evidence suggests STM isnt a unitary store it has separate parts
• does not prove the distinction between STM and LTM
• does not effectively explain interaction between STM and LTM
• does not quantify how much repetition results in LTM storage and not everything that is repeated is stored in LTM - some people will remember things they look at once
• doesn’t account for individual differences in capacity or duration
• doesn’t account for interest/motivation and its effect on memory (Craik and Lockharts) levels of processing model is better at explaining how depth of processing affects memory

Question 15

how can more information be retained in LTM

Answer 15

• chunking
• rehearsal
• linking
• meaning
• avoid overload

Question 16

rehearsal - helps info be retained in LTM

Answer 16

• useful for retrieval of info
• and storage of motor programmes

Question 17

linking - helps info be retained in LTM

Answer 17

• if new info is linked to old info
• it is more likely to be remembered

Question 18

meaning - helps info be retained in LTM

Answer 18

• more relevant info is to our needs
• more likely we are to remember it

Question 19

avoid overload - helps info be retained in LTM

Answer 19

• STM cannot cope with large amounts of info

Question 20

Craik and Lockharts levels of processing

Answer 20

• depth of processing can be grouped into 3 types

Question 21

3 types of processing

Answer 21

• shallow processing
• moderate processing
• deep processing

Question 22

shallow processing

Answer 22

short lasting memory

Question 23

moderate processing

Answer 23

short lasting memory but longer than shallow

Question 24

deep processing

Answer 24

long lasting memory

Question 25

what is shallow processing

Answer 25

- structural processing - phonemic processing

Question 26

structural processing

Answer 26

- remembering info based on what it looks like

Question 27

structural processing example

Answer 27

- remembering a tennis coach giving a demonstration of a tennis serve

Question 28

phonemic processing

Answer 28

- remembering info based on what is sounds like

Question 29

phonemic processing - example

Answer 29

- tennis coach draws performers attention to what it sounds like when they have hit the sweet spot of the racket

Question 30

what type of rehearsal does shallow processing lead to

Answer 30

maintenance rehearsal

Question 31

shallow processing - types of memory

Answer 31

- weak memory trace - as does not involve too much processing

Question 32

what is deep processing

Answer 32

- remembering information based on its meaning - this is called semantic processing

Question 33

example of semantic processing

Answer 33

- tennis coach will explain why it is important to be able to serve correctly

Question 34

what type of rehearsal does deep processing come from

Answer 34

elaborative rehearsal

Question 35

deep processing - type of memory

Answer 35

- strong memory trace - as it is deeper and involves more processing

Question 36

what factors affect memory

Answer 36

- how much consideration is given to information - whether or not information is understood - whether information has meaning or is useful to the individual - deeper the information is processed the more likely that it will be remembered

Question 37

advantages - levels of processing

Answer 37

- explains well that if we understand some information we are more likely to remember it - explains well that the longer we consider and analyse information the more we remember that information

Question 38

disadvantages - levels of processing

Answer 38

- longer time it takes to process information does not always lead to better recall so depth of learning doesn't always help us remember - difficult to define what deep processing involves - does not explain individual differences

Question 39

why doesn't levels processing explain individual differences

Answer 39

- doesn't explain why some people pay a lot of attention to a coach and fail to remember certain skills - and others pay little attention to the coaches instructions and can perform so well