MSM - Evaluation

• What is a strength of the MSM?


  • Strength : Research support
  • results from Murdocks' experiment (recalling word lists varying from 10-40) showed more words were recalled from the beginning and end of the list regardless of list length
  • However, it's a lab experiment meaning it lacks ecological validity - says little about how memory works irl
  • On one hand, evd. supports the idea of two separate memory stores but the use of artificial materials means the MSM isn't a good explanation of how we use memory in everyday life
• What is a problem with the MSM?


  • Research suggests there's more than one type of STM
  • E.g, patient KF suffered amnesia. They found KF's short term memory for digits read out to him were poor, but his recall was better when he read the digits himself
  • Limitation: Shows there must be one short term store to process auditory imagery and another for visual info
• What is a limitation of the MSM? 


  • There's more than one type of rehearsal
  • A study in 1973 found two types of rehearsal are needed for long term storage ; maintenance (repetition of info) and elaborative rehearsal
  • Limitation: this is another research finding that can't be explained by the MSM model