MSM

Question 1

what is the MSM

Answer 1

• a structural model (representation) of memory
• it was the first complex model of human memory
• each store is unitary and information is transferred from one store to another in a fixed, linear sequence
• Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) suggested memory is made up of sensory register, STM, LTM

Question 2

what is the sensory register

Answer 2

• the memory store for each of our 5 senses (iconic, echoic)
• a stimulus from the environment passes into the sensory register which receives all the information and holds it briefly
• information that you pay attention to will pass into your memory system

Question 3

Sensory register features

Answer 3

capacity: high
duration: less than half a second
95-99% lost as we do not pay attention to it

Question 4

STM features

Answer 4

capacity: 5-9 items
duration: up to 30 seconds without rehearsal
coding: acoustic
- info leaves STM via response and recall
- info is transferred to LTM via prolonged rehearsal (rehearsing the info for long enough)
- info stays in STM by maintenance rehearsal (repeating the info to yourself)

Question 5

LTM features

Answer 5

capacity: unlimited
duration: up to a lifetime
coding: semantic

Question 6

supporting evidence for MSM from Peterson and Peterson and Bahrick et al.’s studies

Answer 6

• Peterson and Peterson found that duration of STM is up to 30s and Bahrick et al. found that duration of LTM is up to a lifetime
• this supports that STM and LTM are unitary stores

Question 7

supporting evidence for MSM from Baddeley’s study

Answer 7

• found that LTM is coded semantically and STM is coded acoustically
• supports that they are unitary stores

Question 8

problems with supporting evidence for MSM

Answer 8

• Baddeley and Peterson used artificial stimuli
• lacks mundane realism and generalisability
• not externally valid
• so studies arent strong enough to support STM and LTM being unitary stores as proposed by the MSM

Question 9

supporting research for MSM- HM

Answer 9

• HM had brain surgery to relieve epilepsy
• he didnt have any LTMs, couldnt recall what he ate earlier that day
• he performed well on STM tests
• supports MSM as LTM and STM are unitary stores as one can be damaged whilst the other is intact

Question 10

Counterargument for HM for MSM

Answer 10

• unique case of brain damage so results cant be generalisable to other people

Question 11

undermining research for MSM- KF

Answer 11

• Shallice and Washington studied patient with amnesia called KF
• his STM for digits was poor when they were read out loud to him
• his recall was better when he read them to himself
• limitation of MSM because it suggests that there is more than 1 type of STM as 1 is damaged while the other remains in tact

Question 12

undermining evidence for MSM- HM

Answer 12

• evidence from HM says we have more than 1 type of LTM
• when drawing a star between 2 concentric ones whilst looking in a mirror, he improved over time
• but he still couldnt remember that he had done the task before
• suggests that episodic memory was damaged while procedural memory was still intact

Question 13

evaluation points for MSM

Answer 13

• supporting evidence from Peterson and Bahrick et al’s studies
• supporting evidence from Baddeley’s study
• problems with supporting evidence
• supporting research HM
• counterargument HM
• undermining research KF
• undermining evidence from HM (more than 1 type of LTM)