memory

• coding

  the format in which information is stored in various memory stores
• capacity

  the amount of information that can be held in a memory store
• short term memory

  the limited capacity memory store

  coding is mainly acoustic

  capacity is between 5-9 items

  duration is between 18-30 sec
• long term memory

  the permanent memory store

  coding is mainly semantic

  unlimited capacity and can store memories for at least a life time
• who did research into the types of coding in the STM and LTM

  Baddeley
• what is semantic coding

  when the memory store codes by word/information meaning
• general strengths of lab based memory studies

  + high internal validity

  • controlled environment
  • eliminates extraneous variables
  • can see correlation

  +repeatable and replicable
• general weaknesses of lab based memory studies

  -low population validity

  • cant generalise

  -low ecological validity

  -artificial tasks

  • superficial and not true everyday life
  • cant apply it to daily life
• baddeley evaluation

  -low ecological validity

  artificial word lists

  they have no meaning to pps

  lacks application to real life memory

  limited application of findings

  pp could also use semantic processing in STM if they have meaning
• baddeley study

  Research on coding in STM and LTM

  when asked to recall words immediately in the STM task

  pps recalled less acoustically similar words than acoustically dissimilar

  when asked to recall after 20 min in LTM task

  they recalled less semantically similar words

  when
• Jacobs capacity of STM study

  tested how many pieces of info people could remember

  found 9.3 was the mean no. of digits
• miller magic no 7 study

  found that 7 (+/-2) is the capacity of the STM on average

  and that it can be extended using chunking
• What are the two types of long-term memory suggested by Tulving?

  Declarative and procedural memory
• What does declarative memory involve?

  Knowledge we can easily tell others
• What is procedural memory related to?

  Knowledge of how to do things
• What are the two broad types of declarative memory according to Tulving?

  Episodic and semantic memory
• What does episodic memory refer to?

  Information related to time and place
• How is episodic memory characterized?

  It is 'time-stamped' and event-based
• What is the nature of semantic memory?

  Memory for factual and meaningful information
• How does procedural memory differ from declarative memory?

  It involves muscle-based memory and actions
• What is required to recall episodic memories?

  A conscious effort to remember
• What type of memory is less personal than episodic memory?

  Semantic memory
• What type of memory is not available for conscious inspection?

  Procedural memory
• What does semantic memory include?

  Knowledge about concepts and rules
• How do episodic and semantic memory differ in terms of personal relevance?

  Episodic is personal; semantic is factual
• What is the role of eyewitnesses in court?

  To provide evidence that could lead to convictions
• What factors can affect the accuracy of eyewitness testimony?

  Misleading information, post-event discussion, anxiety
• What is Bartlett's argument about memories?

  • Memories are not accurate snapshots
  • They are reconstructive in nature
  • Memories are influenced by schemas
• What is a schema according to Bartlett?

  Packages of information to understand the world
• How do schemas affect eyewitness testimony?

  Schemas can lead to errors in memory recall
• What is substitution bias in memory recall?

  The old memory is replaced completely
• What is post-event discussion?

  • Contamination of eyewitness testimony
  • Witnesses discuss their memories
  • Alters accuracy to match other accounts
• What is memory conformity?

  Witnesses change recall to match others
• How did Loftus's study demonstrate leading questions?

  Changing verbs influenced speed estimates
• What was the follow-up question in Loftus's study?

  Did you see any broken glass?
• What did participants in the smash condition report?

  They saw broken glass more often
• What did Gabbert's study reveal about eyewitness testimony?

  Participants included items not seen in videos
• What percentage of participants included unseen items in Gabbert's study?

  71 percent
• How does anxiety affect eyewitness testimony?

  It can either decrease or increase recall
• What is the weapon focus effect?

  Focus on a weapon distracts from the criminal