Multi store Model of Memory (A&S 1968)

• The three main components of the multi-store model are sensory register, short term memory (STM), and long term memory (LTM).
• • The multi-store model of memory can be described as an information processing model where information is input, processed then output.
• • Information is initially detected by the sense organs, such as sight or sound, and enters the sensory register in a modality specific form for a very brief time. 
• • Information that is attended to in the sensory store is then transferred to the short-term memory store where acoustic encoding is used. 
• • The short-term memory store is said to have a limited capacity of 5-9 items for information storage and a limited duration of 15-30 seconds. 
• Rehearsal takes place in short-term memory to transfer information into the long-term memory store.
• Information is said to be encoded in the long-term memory store in mainly a semantic format.
• Strength

  Validity: The multi-store model explains all stages of memory processes from sensory input through to long-term storage making it a more complete explanation of how the stages of human memory work.
• Strength

  Reliability: Peterson and Peterson (1959) found that decay occurs in the STM store over a period of 18-30 seconds if rehearsal is prevented, supporting the rehearsal process of transfer to LTM.
• Strength

  Reliability: Supporting evidence for separate memory stores and transference comes from the case study of HM whose STM was unaffected (intact) by his brain damage, but he could not create new semantic long-term memories because he had a failure to rehearse information and encode it in the LTM.
• Strength

  Glanzer and Cuntiz (1966) show how memories are displaced from STM when they exceed its capacity - primary recency effect
• Strength

  • Application: can be used to improve memory recall in real life such as trying to remember items by only rehearsing 7 items at a time or 30 seconds at a time
• Weakness

  •  Reductionism: Baddeley and Hitch (1974) suggest that short term memory comprises of multiple slave systems, so the multi-store model may be an over simplistic explanation of information processing in memory. 
• Weakness

  • Reductionism: In the case of KF, Shallice and Warrington (1974) found that he could remember spatial memory but not acoustic memory, therefore indicating STM is not simply for sound as the multi-store model claimed, so STM may be more complex than Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) suggested.
• weakness

  Validity: There is evidence from the case of HM that new long term procedural memories could be created, such as mirror drawing, which is not explained by the multi-store model, making it an incomplete explanation of memory.
• Encoding is the process of formatting information in different ways
• Information processing is where input from our senses flows through the three stores in memory in a sequential order being processed by each store in order to retain the information temporarily in STM or forever in LTM