Multi store model

• What is memory?

  Memory is the process by which we retain information about events, information and actions that have happened in the past.
• What is the original theory of memory?

  the unistore model - Memory is stored in one area.
• What is the main model for memory?

  The multi store model of memory
• What is the sensory register/ memory?

  The initial contact for stimuli. Is only capable of retaining information for a very short time.
• What is the short term memory?

  The information we are currently aware of or thinking about. The information found in short term memory comes from paying attention to sensory memories.
• What is the long term memory?

  A continual storage of information which is largely outside of our awareness, but can be called into short term memory to be used when needed.
• How can we keep information in our short term memory?

  Maintenance rehearsal - repeating it in our head
• How can we keep information in our long term memory?

  elaborate rehearsal - giving information a meaning.
• What is encoding?

  The form information is processed
• What are the two types of encoding in the sensory register?

  iconic (visual coding) and echoic (sound coding)
• What research shows encoding in our short term memory?


  Baddeley 1966 - found that when recalled immediately, recall was worse for acoustically similar words, suggesting coding in the stm is acoustic. (words that sound the same are easily confused.)
• What research shows encoding in our long term memory?

  Baddeley 1966 - Found that words that were semantically different were better recalled. If the meaning is similar, they may be confused with each other.
• What is capacity?

  How much information can be stored in each memory store.
• What is the capacity of the sensory memory?

  Unlimited - each of our sense organs contain millions of cells.
• What research shows capacity in the short term memory? (1887)

  Jacob's 1887 - proposed and confirmed by other research that there is a specific limit to how many items can be stored in short term memory. He found the mean span for numbers was 9.3 and was fewer for letters at 7.3.
• What research shows capacity in the short term memory? (1956)

  Miller's magic number 1956 - Miller noticed that musical notes, days of the week, seven deadly sins all came in 7. Suggested we remember 7+/-2 items. However, further research has shown it is the lower end at 4 or 5. Miller also showed we can remember whole words as well as we can letters - called chunking.
• What is the capacity of the long term memory?

  unlimited - Our brain creates new connections in response to new long term learning, so doesn't get 'full up.
• What is duration?

  The amount of time information can stay in the memory store.
• What research shows the duration of the sensory register?

  Sperling 1960 - a 3x4 grid was flashed on the screen to participants for less than a second. Participants could recall 4 or 5. when it was just one line (coded by a sound), they could recall 3 in any line. Trace delays out sensory memory before you can finish writing, but all 12 are held in memory for a very short amount of time. Duration is limited to half a second.
• What research shows the duration of short term memory?

  Peterson and Peterson 1959 - Remember groups of 3 words. interval time was increased by 3 each time. They were asked to count backwards by 3 from a random number to avoid maintenance rehearsal. The number correct decreased as interval increased. Duration is limited to 18-30 seconds.
• What research shows the duration of long term memory?

  Bahrick et al 1975 - Studied 392 American participants aged 17-74. Took year books either from participants or directly from schools. Took a photo recognition test of 50 photos, some from the year book and some random. After 15 years of graduation - 90% and 48 years - 70%. recall of names was 60% after 15 years and 30% after 48 years. This shows that long term memory can last up to a lifetime for some material.
• What was the limitation of Bahrick et al?

  extraneous variables