Essay
Multistore model of memory
Multistore model of memory essay plan, 16 mark question. Psychology A Level AQA Essay Plan. Information taken directly from the textbook and displayed in an essay format, for AO1 and AO3.
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Multistore model of memoryAO1 BRIEF: 2 marks
AO3: 1-3 marks
Sensory register:
There is lots of supporting research evidence for the multistore
Aicore
Atkinson and Shiffrin came up with the multistore model, describing model of memory, showing that the STM and the LTM are
how information flows through the memory system. The model qualitatively different, which is a major strength of the model. For
suggests that it is made up of three stores, linked by processing, with example, Baddeley found that we tend to mix up similar sounding
the first one being the sensory register. An environmental stimulus words when using our STMs, whereas when using our LTMs we
passes into the sensory register along with other sights, sounds, smells instead mix up words with similar meanings. A strength of this study
etc. Therefore, this part of memory is a store for each of our five is that it clearly shows that STM coding is acoustic, and LTM coding is
senses. Iconic memory and echoic memory are the two main stores, semantic, indicating their differences. This supports the model’s view
and they have a duration of only a few milliseconds, but do have a that these two memory stores are separate and therefore
large capacity to store data. Only a small amount of what goes on in independent from each other.
the sensory register gets passed any further into the memory system,
and to do so this requires attention.
AO1 EXPLAIN: 4 marks AO3: 4-6 marks
Short term memory: The multistore model of memory states that there is only one type of
STM – it is a unitary store. However, people suffering from amnesia
The short term memory store is known as the limited capacity store, as provide evidence to show that this is not true. A study was carried out
it can only contain a certain number of items before they are forgotten. which found that with this condition, a patient’s short term memory
The capacity of STM is between 5 and 9 items of information, however for digits was very poor when they were read out to him, yet were
research suggests that it might actually be more like 5 rather than 9. much better when he read the digits to himself. Further studies into
Information in the STM store is coded acoustically, lasting around 30 this showed that there could be another short term store for non-
seconds unless it is rehearsed. Maintenance rehearsal is the repetition verbal sounds such as noises. Due to this, the idea of STM being a
of material to ourselves continuously, allowing us to keep information unitary store is a limitation of the model, as research shows that
in our STM for as long as we rehearse it. It then passes into long term there is at least a STM store for processing visual information, and a
memory if we rehearse it for long enough. STM store to process auditory information, which the WMM includes.
AO1 DISCUSS – 6 marks AO3: 7-8 marks
Long term memory: According to the MSM the more rehearsal of information you do,
the more likely you are to transfer it to LTM and then remember it
The long term memory store is the potentially permanent memory for a long time. However, researchers have found that this
store for information that has been rehearsed for a prolonged time. prediction is wrong and that the type of rehearsal is what really
Psychologists believe that it has an unlimited capacity, and has a matters. It was discovered that there are actually two types of
duration of potentially a lifetime, which Bahrick found from his study. rehearsal, despite the multistore model of memory only explaining
We also saw that long term memories tend to be semantically coded – maintenance rehearsal. However, maintenance rehearsal is not able
in terms of their meaning. Although this material is stored in the LTM, to transfer information into LTM, and simply just maintains it in
when we want to recall it, the information is passed back into STM by STM. Elaborative rehearsal is what is needed for long term storage,
retrieval, and according to this model, no memories are directly which occurs when you link the information to your existing
recalled from LTM. knowledge and think more deeply about its meaning. Therefore,
this is a serious limitation of the MSM as it cannot explain this
research finding.
Notes: AO3: 9-10 marks
Iconic memory: visual info is coded visually Another limitation of the multi store model of memory is the use of
artificial materials in studies that were carried out to provide
Echoic memory: auditory info is coded acoustically support for the MSM. In everyday life, we form memories related to
a range of useful things such as people’s faces, their names, facts,
Word count: Ao1 = 326 places etc. However, their research instead used digits, letters and
sometimes words. They even used consonant syllables that lack
Word count: Ao3 = 461 meaning, such as KDB. Due to this, it means we are limited in how
we can apply the model to real life situations which may cause
Total = 787 problems.
Word count: AO1 – 326, AO3 – , Total -
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