Memory
Essay plans
AQA
, Discuss the multi store model of memory
16 marks
A01
created by Atkinson and Shriffin
Stimuli from the environment pass into the sensory register. Duration in the sensory register is very short (less than half a second)
The sensory register has a very high capacity
The way the SR is coded is specific to the sense
If the information is paid attention to, it is further passed on into the memory system
Short term memory
Coding: acoustic
Capacity: 5-9 items
Duration: 18-30 seconds
Maintenance rehearsal occurs when we repeat information to ourselves over and over again. As long as we keep rehearsing this
information, we can keep it in our STM. If we rehearse this information for long enough, it passes into the LTM store
Long term memory
Coding: semantically
Capacity: unlimited
Duration: unlimited/lifetime
According to the multi store model, when we want to recall information from the LTM, it has to be transferred back into the STM. This
occurs through a process called retrieval.
A03
+ One strength of the MSM is support from studies showing that the STM and LTM are different. For example, Baddeley found
that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when using our STM, however we mix up words that mean the same when
we’re using our LTM’s. This shows that the STM and LTM are both coded differently. This idea of them being separate stores is
also supported through the studies of their capacity and duration e.g. Peterson and Peterson and Bahrick on duration. These
studies clearly show that the STM and LTM are separe and independent memory stores, as claimed by the MSM.
However, a lot of these studies use artificial stimuli, e.g. using digits, letters and consonant syllables. This becomes a problem
because measuring these variables doesn’t represent the memories we have that correlate with everyday life. Therefore, the
MSM may not be a valid model of how memory works in our everyday lives.
-One limitation of the MSM is that there’s evidence of more than one STM store. A study was conducted of patient KF who had
a memory disorder called amnesia. Patient KF’s STM for digits was very poor when read out loud, however his digit recall when
reading the digits to himself was much better. This evidence shows that the MSM is wrong in claiming that there is only one
STM store processing different types of information such as auditory and visual information.
- Another limitation is that prolonged rehearsal is not needed for information to be transferred to the LTM. According to the
MSM, the more you rehearse information, the more likely it is to transfer into the LTM. However, it has been found that the type
of rehearsal is actually more important then the amount. Elaborative rehearsal is actually needed for long-term storage, and
occurs when you link the information to your existing knowledge. This means that the information can be transferred to the
LTM without prolonged rehearsal. This suggests that the MSM does not fully explain how long term storage of information is
achieved.
Essay plans
AQA
, Discuss the multi store model of memory
16 marks
A01
created by Atkinson and Shriffin
Stimuli from the environment pass into the sensory register. Duration in the sensory register is very short (less than half a second)
The sensory register has a very high capacity
The way the SR is coded is specific to the sense
If the information is paid attention to, it is further passed on into the memory system
Short term memory
Coding: acoustic
Capacity: 5-9 items
Duration: 18-30 seconds
Maintenance rehearsal occurs when we repeat information to ourselves over and over again. As long as we keep rehearsing this
information, we can keep it in our STM. If we rehearse this information for long enough, it passes into the LTM store
Long term memory
Coding: semantically
Capacity: unlimited
Duration: unlimited/lifetime
According to the multi store model, when we want to recall information from the LTM, it has to be transferred back into the STM. This
occurs through a process called retrieval.
A03
+ One strength of the MSM is support from studies showing that the STM and LTM are different. For example, Baddeley found
that we tend to mix up words that sound similar when using our STM, however we mix up words that mean the same when
we’re using our LTM’s. This shows that the STM and LTM are both coded differently. This idea of them being separate stores is
also supported through the studies of their capacity and duration e.g. Peterson and Peterson and Bahrick on duration. These
studies clearly show that the STM and LTM are separe and independent memory stores, as claimed by the MSM.
However, a lot of these studies use artificial stimuli, e.g. using digits, letters and consonant syllables. This becomes a problem
because measuring these variables doesn’t represent the memories we have that correlate with everyday life. Therefore, the
MSM may not be a valid model of how memory works in our everyday lives.
-One limitation of the MSM is that there’s evidence of more than one STM store. A study was conducted of patient KF who had
a memory disorder called amnesia. Patient KF’s STM for digits was very poor when read out loud, however his digit recall when
reading the digits to himself was much better. This evidence shows that the MSM is wrong in claiming that there is only one
STM store processing different types of information such as auditory and visual information.
- Another limitation is that prolonged rehearsal is not needed for information to be transferred to the LTM. According to the
MSM, the more you rehearse information, the more likely it is to transfer into the LTM. However, it has been found that the type
of rehearsal is actually more important then the amount. Elaborative rehearsal is actually needed for long-term storage, and
occurs when you link the information to your existing knowledge. This means that the information can be transferred to the
LTM without prolonged rehearsal. This suggests that the MSM does not fully explain how long term storage of information is
achieved.
