introduction

• What is the definition of memory?

  Ability to store, retain, and retrieve information
• What are the cognitive processes involved in memory?

  Encoding, storage, and retrieval of information
• What are the key definitions related to memory?

  • Capacity: Amount of information held
  • Duration: Length of time information is held
  • Coding: Format of stored information
  • Short-term memory (STM): Limited capacity memory store
  • Long-term memory (LTM): Permanent memory store with unlimited capacity
• What is the capacity of short-term memory?

  The amount of information that can be held
• What is the digit span task used for?

  To measure the capacity of short-term memory
• Who conducted research on STM capacity in 1887?

  Jacobs
• What is a limitation of Jacob’s study?

  Lack of validity due to confounding variables
• What did Miller (1956) conclude about short-term memory capacity?

  We can hold seven items, plus or minus two
• How does chunking help in memory recall?

  It groups information into manageable units
• How can chunking be used in revision strategies?

  • Group information into chunks
  • Use acronyms for easier recall
  • Form patterns or stories with information
• What is a strength of Miller’s research?

  It was scientific and replicable
• What did Cowan et al (2001) conclude about STM capacity?

  Average capacity is about 4 chunks
• What did Peterson & Peterson find about forgetting in STM?

  Forgetting increases with longer time delays
• What was the recall percentage after 3 seconds in Peterson & Peterson's study?

  80%
• What is encoding in memory?

  Format in which we store information
• What types of words did Baddeley (1966) investigate?

  Acoustically and semantically similar words
• What happens during acoustic confusion?

  Similar sounding words are confused during recall
• What is a limitation of Baddeley's study?

  Use of artificial stimuli with no personal meaning
• What are the key points of memory research studies on STM?

  1. Capacity of STM is limited (7±2 items)
  2. Duration of STM is short (up to 18 seconds)
  3. Encoding involves acoustic and semantic formats
  4. Chunking aids memory recall
• What should you write on the back of your sheet regarding Bahrick's study?

  A four-point summary of the study