1|Page
AQA A-Level Psychology paper 1 16
markers WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
Outline and evaluate the multi store model of memory. (AO1) - ✔✔Theoretical model
developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin.
Suggests information flows through three memory stores, sensory register, short term
memory, and long term memory. Each store is separate as they have different coding,
capacities and durations. Each store is unitary- cannot be subdivided.
The sensory register detect sensory stimuli, codes modality free and has a large
capacity.
If information is paid attention to, it is transferred to the short term memory which has
a capacity of five to nine items, codes acoustically and has a duration of up to 30
seconds.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
,2|Page
Rehearsal involves repeating information that people are trying to remember over and
over again. This prevents information from decaying and allows it to enter the long
term memory.
Long term memory has a potentially unlimited capacity and duration and is coded
semantically. Information in the long term memory can be accessed by the short term
memory during retrieval.
Information can be lost from each store through decay or displacement.
Outline and evaluate the multi store model of memory. (AO3) - ✔✔+ Supporting
evidence for the idea that each of the three stores are different. Baddeley investigated
coding in STM & LTM: 70 young servicemen were divided into four different groups
and underwent trials where they were briefly presented with the same 5 words.
However, the orders of the words changed each time. Their task was to write down the
words in the correct order. G1: words acoustically similar. G2: words acoustically
dissimilar. G3: words semantically similar. G4: words semantically dissimilar. To assess
coding in STM recall was assessed within 30 seconds. To assess LTM coding, recall was
assessed after a long duration. For STM: Difference in recall between acoustically
similar words and acoustically dissimilar words - codes acoustically. For LTM:
Difference in recall between semantically similar words and semantically dissimilar
words.- codes semantically.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
,3|Page
-Challenging evidence: stores aren't unitary. Research using dual task studies shows
that the short term memory can complete two different tasks (visual and acoustic) at the
same time which suggests it has subdivisions. Research also suggests that the LTM
could be subdivided into different parts: Episodic, semantic and procedural. This
challenges the multi store model of memory's, assumption that all stores are unitary.
+ Practical application. Some ideas from the multi store model of memory can be used
to help in education. For example, the idea of rehearsal to help a memory enter the long
term memory can be used by students and teachers. It means students should revise by
regularly rehearsing information. And teachers should regularly revisit topics to
continue rehearsal. This shows that this model can be useful in the real world.
Outline & Evaluate the Working memory model of memory. (AO1) - ✔✔It is a model
for short term memory only, developed by Baddeley and Hitch.
It divides the short term memory into 4 to 8 subdivisions: a controller & slave systems.
Each subdivision is specialised for a specific information and can only deal with one
task at time. We can complete tasks using different types of information at the same
time. This is the dual task technique.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
, 4|Page
The central executive is the supervisor of the short term store. It controls and directs
attention, plans and makes decisions, passes info to components and can takeover from
overloaded slave systems for brief periods: codes modality free & codes acoustically
Phonological loop- stores speech-based sound for brief periods. Codes acoustically,
limited capacity. A) phonological Store (inner ear): briefly stores acoustically coded
items B) articulatory control process (inner voice): sub vocal repetition of stored items.
Visuospatial sketch Pad- Sets up and manipulates mental images from visual and
spatial information. Codes visually, limited capacity of four objects. A) Visual cache:
object form and colour info. B) inner scribe: object arrangement info.
Episodic buffer. Temporary storage system allowing incoming info to be combined with
long term memory info. Codes modality free, capacity limited to four chunks.
Outline & Evaluate the Working memory model of memory. (AO3) - ✔✔+Supporting
evidence: dual task studies
If a participant can complete a verbal and visual task at the same time, it supports the
idea that the short term memory is subdivided. If they are unable to complete
simultaneously two similar tasks, it shows that the capacity of each component is
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
AQA A-Level Psychology paper 1 16
markers WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
Outline and evaluate the multi store model of memory. (AO1) - ✔✔Theoretical model
developed by Atkinson and Shiffrin.
Suggests information flows through three memory stores, sensory register, short term
memory, and long term memory. Each store is separate as they have different coding,
capacities and durations. Each store is unitary- cannot be subdivided.
The sensory register detect sensory stimuli, codes modality free and has a large
capacity.
If information is paid attention to, it is transferred to the short term memory which has
a capacity of five to nine items, codes acoustically and has a duration of up to 30
seconds.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
,2|Page
Rehearsal involves repeating information that people are trying to remember over and
over again. This prevents information from decaying and allows it to enter the long
term memory.
Long term memory has a potentially unlimited capacity and duration and is coded
semantically. Information in the long term memory can be accessed by the short term
memory during retrieval.
Information can be lost from each store through decay or displacement.
Outline and evaluate the multi store model of memory. (AO3) - ✔✔+ Supporting
evidence for the idea that each of the three stores are different. Baddeley investigated
coding in STM & LTM: 70 young servicemen were divided into four different groups
and underwent trials where they were briefly presented with the same 5 words.
However, the orders of the words changed each time. Their task was to write down the
words in the correct order. G1: words acoustically similar. G2: words acoustically
dissimilar. G3: words semantically similar. G4: words semantically dissimilar. To assess
coding in STM recall was assessed within 30 seconds. To assess LTM coding, recall was
assessed after a long duration. For STM: Difference in recall between acoustically
similar words and acoustically dissimilar words - codes acoustically. For LTM:
Difference in recall between semantically similar words and semantically dissimilar
words.- codes semantically.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
,3|Page
-Challenging evidence: stores aren't unitary. Research using dual task studies shows
that the short term memory can complete two different tasks (visual and acoustic) at the
same time which suggests it has subdivisions. Research also suggests that the LTM
could be subdivided into different parts: Episodic, semantic and procedural. This
challenges the multi store model of memory's, assumption that all stores are unitary.
+ Practical application. Some ideas from the multi store model of memory can be used
to help in education. For example, the idea of rehearsal to help a memory enter the long
term memory can be used by students and teachers. It means students should revise by
regularly rehearsing information. And teachers should regularly revisit topics to
continue rehearsal. This shows that this model can be useful in the real world.
Outline & Evaluate the Working memory model of memory. (AO1) - ✔✔It is a model
for short term memory only, developed by Baddeley and Hitch.
It divides the short term memory into 4 to 8 subdivisions: a controller & slave systems.
Each subdivision is specialised for a specific information and can only deal with one
task at time. We can complete tasks using different types of information at the same
time. This is the dual task technique.
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
, 4|Page
The central executive is the supervisor of the short term store. It controls and directs
attention, plans and makes decisions, passes info to components and can takeover from
overloaded slave systems for brief periods: codes modality free & codes acoustically
Phonological loop- stores speech-based sound for brief periods. Codes acoustically,
limited capacity. A) phonological Store (inner ear): briefly stores acoustically coded
items B) articulatory control process (inner voice): sub vocal repetition of stored items.
Visuospatial sketch Pad- Sets up and manipulates mental images from visual and
spatial information. Codes visually, limited capacity of four objects. A) Visual cache:
object form and colour info. B) inner scribe: object arrangement info.
Episodic buffer. Temporary storage system allowing incoming info to be combined with
long term memory info. Codes modality free, capacity limited to four chunks.
Outline & Evaluate the Working memory model of memory. (AO3) - ✔✔+Supporting
evidence: dual task studies
If a participant can complete a verbal and visual task at the same time, it supports the
idea that the short term memory is subdivided. If they are unable to complete
simultaneously two similar tasks, it shows that the capacity of each component is
Katelyn Whitman© 2025, All Rights Reserved.
