Structures of memory

• MULTI-STORE MODEL OF MEMORY

  Multi-store model: three memory stores- different coding , capacity and duration. information moves through attention and verbal rehearsal.

  Sensory memory: very short duration, large capacity. attention transfers information to STM.

  STM: limited duration (30 seconds) and capacity (5-9 items) acoustic coding.

  Role of rehearsal: rehearsal keeps information in STM. Repeat rehearsal transfers STM into LTM.

  LTM: semantic coding, unlimited capacity and stored up into a lifetime.
• EVALUATION OF THE MULTI-STORE MODEL

  supporting research: encoding research (baddeley) shows qualitative differences between STM and LTM :)

  simple model: having one STM and LTM store is too simplistic :(

  artificial materials: research uses word lists or consonant syllables so the model lacks validity :(
• PRIMACY AND RECENCY EFFECTS IN RECALL

  primacy and recency effect: words at beginning are remembered more (rehearsed, so in LTM) words at end are remembered more (heard more recently so in, STM)

  Murdocks study AIM: to see if memory of words is affected by location in a list.

  Method: participants listened to 20 word lists with 10-40 words on them, recalled words after each list.

  Results: recall related to position of words. higher recall for the first words (primacy effect) and last words (recency effect) than in middle

  Conclusion: shows the serial position effect and supports the MSM store
• EVALUATION OF PRIMACY AND RECENCY

  controlled lab study: there was a high level of control so it could be concluded position of words determine recall :)

  artificial task: word lists were used which is only one type of memory, so the study lacks validity :(

  supporting research: some amnesiacs can't store LTM, which shows the primacy effect is related to LTM (carlesimo) :)