Memory

• What is coding in memory?

  Converting information between different forms
• What were the types of word lists used in Baddeley's procedure?

  • Acoustically similar: cat, cab, can
  • Acoustically dissimilar: pit, few, cow
  • Semantically similar: great, large, big
  • Semantically dissimilar: good, huge, hot
• What did participants do in Baddeley's study?

  Recall words in the correct order
• How did participants perform with acoustically similar words in STM?

  They tended to do worse
• What was the performance on semantically similar words after 20 minutes?

  They did worse
• What do Baddeley's findings suggest about coding in STM and LTM?

  STM codes acoustically, LTM semantically
• What is a strength of Baddeley's study regarding memory stores?

  • Identified a clear difference between STM and LTM
  • Supported the idea of acoustic coding in STM
  • Supported the idea of semantic coding in LTM
• What is a limitation of Baddeley's study?

  • Used artificial stimuli
  • Lacked personal meaning for participants
  • Limited application to everyday memory tasks
• What does capacity refer to in memory?

  The amount of information held in memory
• What was Jacobs' mean digit span for digits?

  9.3 items
• What was Jacobs' mean digit span for letters?

  7.3 items
• What did Miller suggest about the span of STM?

  About 7 items +/- 2
• What is chunking in memory?

  Grouping sets of digits or letters
• What is a strength of Jacobs' study?

  • Study has been replicated
  • Confirmed by better-controlled studies
  • Valid test of digit span in STM
• What is a limitation of Miller's findings?

  • May have overestimated STM capacity
  • Cowan concluded capacity is about 4 +/- 1 chunks
  • Lower end of Miller's estimate is more appropriate
• What does duration refer to in memory?

  The length of time information is held
• What was the procedure in Peterson & Peterson's study?

  Participants recalled consonant syllables
• What did Peterson & Peterson's study suggest about STM duration?

  STM duration may be about 18 seconds
• What was Bahrick's procedure in studying LTM duration?

  Tested recall using yearbooks
• What was the accuracy of photo recognition after 48 years?

  About 70% accurate
• What was the accuracy of free recall after 15 years?

  About 60% accurate
• What is a limitation of Peterson & Peterson's study?

  • Used artificial stimuli
  • Lacked external validity
  • Does not reflect everyday memory activities
• What is a strength of Bahrick et al.'s study?

  • High external validity
  • Investigated meaningful memories
  • Reflects real estimates of LTM duration
• What are the assumptions of the multi-store model?

  • Information travels linearly between stores
  • Each store is unitary and functions independently
• What are the encoding, capacity, duration, and forgetting characteristics of sensory register (SR)?

  • Encoding: Modality specific
  • Capacity: Potentially unlimited
  • Duration: 2 seconds or less
  • Forgetting: Trace decay if not attended
• What are the encoding, capacity, duration, and forgetting characteristics of short-term memory (STM)?

  • Encoding: Acoustically
  • Capacity: 7 +/- 2
  • Duration: 20 seconds without rehearsal
  • Forgetting: Displacement due to capacity
• What are the encoding, capacity, duration, and forgetting characteristics of long-term memory (LTM)?

  • Encoding: Semantically
  • Capacity: Unlimited
  • Duration: Unlimited
  • Forgetting: Retrieval failure
• What is the serial position effect according to Glanzer & Cunitz?

  • Primacy effect: recall of first words
  • Recency effect: recall of last words
• What is a strength of the multi-store model (MSM)?

  • Valid claim of linear information processing
  • Damage to one store can leave others intact
• What is a limitation of the multi-store model (MSM)?

  • Over-simplified view of memory
  • STM and LTM may have sub-components
• What did Craik & Watkins find about rehearsal?

  Type of rehearsal is more important than amount
• What are the three types of long-term memory proposed by Tulving?

  • Episodic: recall of events
  • Semantic: shared knowledge of the world
  • Procedural: memory for actions or skills
• What is a strength of Tulving's theory of LTM?

  • Supported by clinical evidence from HM and Clive Wearing
  • Different memory stores can be damaged independently
• What is a limitation of clinical studies on memory?

  • Lack of control over variables
  • Difficult to judge memory before damage
• What is a limitation of neuroimaging evidence regarding types of LTM?

  • Conflicting findings on brain areas
  • Poor agreement on memory location
• What is a strength of understanding types of LTM?


  • Helps develop specific treatments for memory problems
  • Interventions can improve episodic memory in older people
• What is the role of the central executive in the working memory model?

  • Supervisory role
  • Monitors incoming data and allocates tasks
• What does the phonological loop deal with?

  • Auditory information and acoustic coding
  • Preserves order of information
• What is the capacity of the visuo-spatial sketchpad (VSS)?

  • 3-4 chunks
  • Stores visual and spatial information
• What is the function of the episodic buffer?

  • Integrates information from CE, PL, and VSS
  • Maintains time-sequencing and sends info to LTM