AQA A-Level Psychology : Memory Exam Questions with Correct Answers

AQA A-Level Psychology : Memory Exam Questions with Correct Answers Define Encoding - Answer-the process of changing sensory input into a memory trace for storage Define Storage - Answer-The process of maintaining a record of the memory trace so it can be retrieved Define Retrieval - Answer-The process of accessing and recovering stored information so it can be recalled Define Capacity - Answer-The amount of information that can be held in a memory store Define Duration - Answer-How long information can be held in a memory store What is the Multi-Store Model - Answer-An explanation of how the memory works in terms of 3 stores: Sensory Register STM LTM Describe Sensory Memory - Answer-Modality specific Large capacity - at least 9 items Short Duration - 0.5 seconds Will lose information via spontaneous decay if attention is not paid Describe Short-Term Memory - Answer-Encodes Acoustically Limited Capacity 7 +/- 2 items (5-9) Short Duration - 18-30 seconds How can information be held for longer in STM - Answer-Maintenance Rehearsal - If rehearsed enough, information is transferred to LTM for potentially permanent storage How and why is information lost from Sensory Memory? - Answer-via spontaneous decay if attention is not paid How and why is information lost from STM? - Answer-Via trace decay if it isn't rehearsed Via displacement when capactiy is reached Describe Long-Term Memory - Answer-Encodes semantically Unlimited Capacity Infinite Duration - 40+ years for names and faces Flashbulb memories last a lifetime How is information lost from LTM? - Answer-Interference Retrieval Failure Name the types of Long-term memories - Answer-Episodic Semantic Procedural Describe Episodic Memories - Answer-Memories of life events Expressed verbally - declarative, conscious Describe Procedural Memories - Answer-Memories of motor skills/actions/muscle memories Difficult to express verbally - non-declarative, unconscious Describe Semantic Memories - Answer-Memory of general knowledge/meaning Expressed verbally - declarative, conscious Give two weaknesses of the Multi-Store Model of Memory - Answer-X - Baddeley and Hitch (1974) - the model is over simplistic on view of STM as a passive and unitary store. They renamed STM 'Working Memory' as an active store of sub-systems, specialising in different tasks with different capacity and duration limitations. X - Criticisms of the emphasis on rehearsal as it i snot a complete explanation of transfer to LTM. Real life leaves little room for maintenance rehearsal yet we constantly store information in LTM. The type of rehearsal/ depth of processing is more important than the quantity. (levels of processing model). What is the Working Memory model? - Answer-An explanation of STM as an active store that holds several different types of info in different sub-units Describe the Central Executive - Answer-Controls 3 slave systems (Coordinates system - MOST IMPORTANT