Teachers flashcards

• Define the key term Storage?


  Holding information in the memory system
• Define the key term retrieval when discussing memory?


  Accessing/recovering information that has been stored in the memory system
• Describe the sensory register (MSM)

  • Acts as a filter system, taking in input from the five senses
  • It can hold up to five items
  • Info stays for less than 1 second
  • If attended to, info passes to STM, if not attended to, info delays
• Describe STM (MSM) :

  • Information enters if attended to.
  • It encodes acoustically
  • it has a capacity of 5-9 pieces of information
  • Duration is approximately 15-30 seconds
  • Info passes to LTM if rehearsed, but new information can displace existing information in the STM and will decay if not rehearsed
• Describe LTM (MSM) :

  • information rehearsed enters the LTM
  • It encodes semantically based upon meaning
  • Capacity is potentially unlimited and duration is potentially infinite
  • However new information can interfere with existing information
• Define the key term "capacity" when discussing memory?


  The amount of information that can be stored in the memory system ( e.g. STM has a capacity of 5-9 pieces of information ).
• Define the key term "duration" when discussing memory


  The amount of time that information can be stored in the memory system ( e.g. STM has a duration of up to 30 seconds )
• What is the claim of the multistore model of memory?


  Memory consists of three stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
• What experiments and case studies support MSM

  • Glanzer and Cunitz, Peterson and Peterson, Miller
  • H,M and Clive wearing
• Which case studies can be used to oppose MSM? How?

  • CW more than one type of LTM
  • KC more than one type of LTM
  • KF more than one type of STM
• what memory learning techniques can we apply from MSM

  • chunking to maximise STM capacity
  • revising based on meaning to promote semantic encoding in the LTM
• Define the component "schema" and discuss how it impacts memory, according to reconstructive memory


  A mental framework of what we expect to happen, based upon experiences. We use schemas to fill in the blanks when a memory trace is not strong to reconstruct the memory.
• Why is reconstructive memory a holistic theory?


  Takes into account personal experiences, expectations, stereotypes, etc. explaining individual differences in memory
• Why is reconstructive memory useful for society?

  Highlights of unreliability of EWT - e.g. Allport and Postman found memories were reconstructed based upon racial stereotypes
• What is the claim of reconstructive memory? (schema theory)


  Bartlett claims that memory recall is not an exact replica of what was learnt/experienced, but instead is constructive in nature. Memories are reconstructed (altered) based on individuals past knowledge, experiences and expectations.
• Discuss War of the Ghosts and how it can be used to support a theory of memory?


  PPts read a folk tale and asked to recall days/weeks/months later - recall got simpler over time and unfamiliar concepts were changed to more familiar concepts, e.g. seal hunting to fishing. Supports the claim that memories are reconstructed based upon experiences/expectations.
• Define episodic memory according to Tulving


  Mental diary of events and experiences. Memories are reliant on the time and context, contextual cues can aid recall, memories are continuous and cannot be fragmented, e.g. last birthday
• Define semantic memory, according to Tulving


  Mental encyclopaedia of meanings, memories are not reliant on time or context of learning and can be fragmented and "pieced together" - e.g. chair is for sitting on.
• Discuss weaknesses of Tulvings explanation of LTM 


  Doesnt explain how the two stores interact - hard to isolate one type of LTM in order to measure and experiment on. Doesnt consider STM or the transfer from STM to LTM.
• Describe the VSSP (WMM)


  Slave systems that temporary holds and manipulates visual and spatial information - images can be retrieved from sight or from LTM
• How does KC support the claim of Tulvings explanation?

  • KC had intact semantic memory - e.g. strikes/spares in bowling
  • KC had damaged episodic memory - e.g. a death of a brother, e.g. family wedding
  • Therefore they must be distinct stores.
• Describe the Phonological loop (WMM)

  • Slave systems that temporarily holds and manipulates verbal information.
  • Phonological store : inner ear : holds acoustic code for a few seconds.
  • Articulatory rehearsal system : inner voice : uses subvocal rehearsal to revive memory trace
• How does KF support WMM? How does Baddeley and Hitch support WMM?


  Visual STM intact but verbal STM damaged as he could only recall 2 digits spoken to him. Couldnt do 2 visual tasks ( shape of letter F and tracking a light ) at the same time but could do 1 visual and 1 verbal task together).
• How did Baddeley improve the WMM?


  In 2002 he added the episodic buffer to explain the missing link between the slave systems, and between the WMM system and LTM.
• What was the aim of baddeleys experiment?


  investigate the influence of acoustic and semantic word similarly on learning and recall in STM and LTM
• Describe the sample and experimental design used by baddeley 


  72 males and females from the applied psychology research unit between 15-21 in each of the 4 conditions independents group design.
• Describe the 4 conditions used in Baddeleys experiment and the 2 forms of recall

  • 10 acoustically similar words
  • 10 acoustically dissimilar words
  • 10 semantically similar words
  • 10 semantically dissimilar words
  • immediate recall and surprise recall
• Describe the results and conclusions of Baddeleys experiment

  • Acoustically similar word recall was worse in STM (immediate recall)- STM encodes acoustically
  • Semantically similar word recall was worse in LTM (surprise re-test) - LTM encodes semantically.