evaluation

• 2 strengths of the WMM

  • supported by experimental research (Baddeley and Gathercole)
  • supported by biological evidence
• 2 limitations of the working memory model-

  • flawed methodologically
  • research shows that the WMM could be incorrect
• • One strength of the WMM is that it has supporting experimental research.
  • for example Gathercole and Baddeley gave participants two visual tasks to do which both placed demand on the visuospatial sketchpad, which made it difficult for the participants.
  • This shows that the WMM has different components which have different roles
  • Therefore the WMM is able to explain how the STM works.
• • One limitation of the WMM is that it is flawed methodologically
  • The research done lacks ecological validity.
  • For example it involved meaningless stimuli such as one/multi-syllable words.
  • This means that the WMM could be invalid as it does not explain memory in real life.
• • One strength of the WMM is that it is supported by biological evidence
  • A part of the brain called the Wernickes area is associated with speech production and the phonological loop.
  • this shows that the WMM has different components which require different parts of the brain.
  • this shows that there are separate stores and that the STM is distinct and non unitary.
• • One limitation of the WMM is that there is research disproving it
  • Berz demonstrated that participants could listen to instrumental music without impairing performance on other auditory tasks.
  • this is problematic as the WMM suggests that we can''t use the same slave system for two tasks.
  • this means that the WMM may be incorrect as it is oversimplified.