Coding

• Definition

  The format in which information is stored in the various memory stores
• Baddeley: procedure

  • Present participants very rapidly with four conditions of words: (acoustically similar and dissimilar, semantically similar and dissimilar).
  • Participants recall the words after a 20 minute break.
• Baddeley - findings

  • Immediate recall worse with acoustically similar words.
  • After 20 minutes recall worse with semantically similar words.
• Baddeley - conclusion

  Coding in LTM: semantic

  Coding in STM: acoustic
• Strength - separate stores

  • Identified a clear difference between two memory stores.
  • LTM - semantic, STM: acoustic
• Limitation - artificial stimuli

  • Study did not use meaningful material - words listed to participants had no personal meaning.
  • Baddeley's findings may not tell us much about coding in everyday situations.
  • When processing more meaningful information, people may use semantic coding even for the STM tasks.
  • Findings have limited application.