Outline & Evaluate the Multi-Store Model of Memory
Outline & Evaluate The Multi-Store Model Of Memory
(12 Marks)
The multi-store model of memory is widely renowned as the definitive concept of how our memory works, through inter-connected stores.
We encode information into our sensory memory by using incoming stimuli (our five senses), our sensory memory is very limited, allowing us to only store around 2 items, for as little as 1 or 2 seconds.
If however, we pay attention to the information that has been encoded into our sensory memory, it then proceeds to our short term memory (STM) where research has shown that we mainly encode information acoustically, our STM has a slightly larger capacity than our sensory memory, allowing us to hold roughly seven items (plus or minus two) we can hold these for up to 30 seconds at a time.
If we rehearse the information in our STM, over and over again by using our rehearsal loop, we are able to transfer this information to our long term memory (LTM). Research has shown that we mainly encode information to our LTM semantically. Our LTM has an unlimited capacity, and items stored there lasts a lifetime.
The multi-store model of memory has many explanations which make logical sense, backing up its validity, for instance, the role of importance shows why some people re-member things more than others. The role of rehearsal for STM is also representative of everyday life, it is also supported by the primary and recency effect (you can remember the start of a piece of information as it is in your LTM, and you can remember the end as it is still in your STM). The idea of our memory having separate stores (STM & LTM) is also supported as research has shown that we can damage one of these without it affecting the other.
However, there are also a few drawbacks to the multi-store model of memory which scientists could use to scrutinise it. One of these is the fact that it is oversimplified as re-search has shown there is more than one type of STM and more than type of LTM, making
(12 Marks)
The multi-store model of memory is widely renowned as the definitive concept of how our memory works, through inter-connected stores.
We encode information into our sensory memory by using incoming stimuli (our five senses), our sensory memory is very limited, allowing us to only store around 2 items, for as little as 1 or 2 seconds.
If however, we pay attention to the information that has been encoded into our sensory memory, it then proceeds to our short term memory (STM) where research has shown that we mainly encode information acoustically, our STM has a slightly larger capacity than our sensory memory, allowing us to hold roughly seven items (plus or minus two) we can hold these for up to 30 seconds at a time.
If we rehearse the information in our STM, over and over again by using our rehearsal loop, we are able to transfer this information to our long term memory (LTM). Research has shown that we mainly encode information to our LTM semantically. Our LTM has an unlimited capacity, and items stored there lasts a lifetime.
The multi-store model of memory has many explanations which make logical sense, backing up its validity, for instance, the role of importance shows why some people re-member things more than others. The role of rehearsal for STM is also representative of everyday life, it is also supported by the primary and recency effect (you can remember the start of a piece of information as it is in your LTM, and you can remember the end as it is still in your STM). The idea of our memory having separate stores (STM & LTM) is also supported as research has shown that we can damage one of these without it affecting the other.
However, there are also a few drawbacks to the multi-store model of memory which scientists could use to scrutinise it. One of these is the fact that it is oversimplified as re-search has shown there is more than one type of STM and more than type of LTM, making