Memory models/Theories + Altruism
December 12, 2012
3.1.6 Evaluate two models or theories of one cognitive process with reference to research studies.
Two Theories for Memory:
The Multi-Store Memory Model:
Sensory Stores
Information directly received from sensory input, i.e. sight/hearing.
Attention determines which parts are transferred to Short Term Storage
Short Term Stores (STS)
Memory with highly limited capacity (10 seconds)
Information is forgotten if not rehearsed/ encoded into long term memory.
Long Term Stores (LTS)
True Information Storage of indefinite capacity.
Retrieval is highly affected by schema, which can distort/alter the memory.
Studies:
Peterson & Peterson (1959)
Lack of Rehearsal causes Short Term Memory to degrade in about 10 seconds\
Glanzer & Cunitz (1996)
Supports LTS and ST due to serial positioning
Items at the beginning of a list are remembered better (attention causes encoding into long term storage)
Items at the end of a list are remembered better (they are still Short term memory during recall)
Evaluations:
High support from experimental studies
Claimed to be too Simplistic & Passive
Insufficient explanation for interactions between 3 memory stores
i.e Encoding into LTS is more complex than the theory claims
The Working Memory Model:
Proposes Central Executive system that allows conscious or automatic attention control
Proposes that Sensory and STM is divided by senses:
Phonological Loop – Auditory Information
Episodic Buffer – Presents an “experience” which leads to the recall of details from LTM (i.e. seeing the page when trying to remember a word on it)
Visuospatial Sketchpad – Visual and Spatial Information
Studies:
Baddley & Hitch (1974) – Ability to efficiently multitask hints at separate parallel instances of STM.
Evaluation:
Explains the performance of multiple cognitive processes simultaneously Storage and Processing is more Active.
Existence of Central Executive reflects the conscious nature of encoding.
3.1.6 Evaluate two models or theories of one cognitive process with reference to research studies.
Two Theories for Memory:
The Multi-Store Memory Model:
Sensory Stores
Information directly received from sensory input, i.e. sight/hearing.
Attention determines which parts are transferred to Short Term Storage
Short Term Stores (STS)
Memory with highly limited capacity (10 seconds)
Information is forgotten if not rehearsed/ encoded into long term memory.
Long Term Stores (LTS)
True Information Storage of indefinite capacity.
Retrieval is highly affected by schema, which can distort/alter the memory.
Studies:
Peterson & Peterson (1959)
Lack of Rehearsal causes Short Term Memory to degrade in about 10 seconds\
Glanzer & Cunitz (1996)
Supports LTS and ST due to serial positioning
Items at the beginning of a list are remembered better (attention causes encoding into long term storage)
Items at the end of a list are remembered better (they are still Short term memory during recall)
Evaluations:
High support from experimental studies
Claimed to be too Simplistic & Passive
Insufficient explanation for interactions between 3 memory stores
i.e Encoding into LTS is more complex than the theory claims
The Working Memory Model:
Proposes Central Executive system that allows conscious or automatic attention control
Proposes that Sensory and STM is divided by senses:
Phonological Loop – Auditory Information
Episodic Buffer – Presents an “experience” which leads to the recall of details from LTM (i.e. seeing the page when trying to remember a word on it)
Visuospatial Sketchpad – Visual and Spatial Information
Studies:
Baddley & Hitch (1974) – Ability to efficiently multitask hints at separate parallel instances of STM.
Evaluation:
Explains the performance of multiple cognitive processes simultaneously Storage and Processing is more Active.
Existence of Central Executive reflects the conscious nature of encoding.