Summary
Summary AQA A level psychology: Memory
Easy A notes for AQA a level psychology. These notes cover the memory module of the AQA psychology specification. Psychology notes are in great detail with a variety of AO3
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Memory notesCoding, capacity, and duration
Multi-Store Model
Types of long-term memory
Working Memory Model
Explanations for forgetting
Interference
Retrieval Failure
Factors affecting accuracy of EWT
Misleading info
Anxiety
Improving the accuracy of EWT
,Coding, Capacity, and Duration
What is memory
Memory is defined in psychology as the faculty of encoding, storing and retrieving
information.
STM temporary store for smaller amounts of information - brief periods (e.g.
remembering names)
LTM permanent store w limitless amounts of information – long period (e.g. how to ride a
bike)
3 basic processes of memory:
Models of memory represent the structure and processes in our memories and explain that
these stores differ in terms of duration, capacity and encoding.
Coding
Baddeley
A Investigate research into encoding in STM and LTM
P 75 British pts presented w 1 of 4 word lists repeated four times:
- Group 1: acoustically similar (e.g., cat, cab, can)
- Group 2: acoustically dissimilar (e.g., pit, few, cow)
- Group 3: semantically similar (e.g., great, large, big)
- Group 4: semantically dissimilar (e.g., good, huge, hot)
Serial recall (in order) tested immediately, STM, and after 20 mins, LTM
F STM = 10% fewer w AS (acoustic confusion) – AD = 60-80%
LTM = 55% w SS (semantic confusion) – SD = 70-85%
C STM is acoustic / LTM is semantic
Distinguishes separate memory stores
o Clear difference
o Whilst there are some exceptions, furthered understanding
o Led to development of the multi-store model
Artificial stimuli
o Not representative of everyday information
Never have to remember string of 10 unrelated words
o Difficult to generalize, has limited application
, Capacity
Jacobs
A Test the STM capacity
P Serial digit span method used
Pts presented w increasingly long lists of numbers / letters and had to recall them
in the correct order – e.g., 391, followed by recall
F Capacity for numbers was 9 and 7 for letters
C Concluded STM is limited
Numbers easier to recall - are only 9 single digits compared to 26 letters in
alphabet
* when pts failed on 50% of their tasks, they were judged to have reached their capacity
Research support – Miller
o Stated capacity of STM is 7 plus or minus 2
o Nature of the stimulus presented is irrelevant as long as it is “chunked”
Chunk = grouped pieces of information into meaningful sections
E.g., 5 letters remembered as easily as 5 words
Individual differences
o Capacity of STM may not be the same for everyone
Children can recall 6.6 digits
19-year-olds could recall 8.6
o Suggests research is different – may lack population validity
Luria
Reported the case of Solomon Sherevesky who had a memory so perfect he could remember
every detail of his life in minute detail. No capacity to Solomon’s memory.
Studied for around 30 yeas, gave long lists of numbers inc. numbers / words / nonsense items
(approx. 70 things) and he could recall all perfectly
Case studies
o One individual, may not be able to generalize
Atypical sample, most cannot remember this much
o Cannot definitely say that the capacity of LTM is unlimited
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