Memomry

Question 1

What does encoding mean?

Answer 1

How our brain converts sensory information to be able to use it and store it in our brain.

Question 2

What are the three types of encoding?

Answer 2

Semantic, visual, audio

Question 3

What are the key features of short term memory?

Answer 3

STM- interim store only lasts about 18 seconds. Can hold up to 7 bits of info.

Question 4

How is info coded into STM?

Answer 4

Acoustically through rehearsal, can move to LTM

Question 5

How long can LTM last for?

Answer 5

minutes or a potential lifetime

Question 6

How is LTM encoded?

Answer 6

Largely semantic but also visually and acoustically.

Question 7

Why is info in our STM forgotten?

Answer 7

because of displacement- when STM becomes full and new info pushes out older info.

Question 8

Why is info in our LTM forgotten?

Answer 8

• simply decay if memory trace is not used
• some info may be overwritten by new info (interference)
  -may just be simply because we cannot find the memory because we lost the link.

Question 9

What is amnesia?

Answer 9

memory loss, often because of disease or injury.

Question 10

What is anterograde amnesia?

Answer 10

inability to store any NEW LONG-TERM memories following a brain injury. Intact STM so can process sensory info but can’t store new info for more than a few mins.

Question 11

What is retrograde amnesia?

Answer 11

Someone who suffered brain injury and cannot remember info prior to accident. This forgetting can be limited to one memory, perhaps the one where the individual gets injure, or a specific time period. It is possible to regain some memories.

Question 12

What is a schema?

Answer 12

A packet of knowledge about an event, person or place that influences how we perceive and remember info.

Question 13

What does Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory propose (1932)?

Answer 13

Proposes that our memory does not have specific stores like the MSM, and or not stored in their exact form. Instead, he says our memories are a brief outline of what we experienced and not in their exact forms.

Question 14

Under bartlett’s theory, what does active reconstruction mean?

Answer 14

Active reconstruction is an interpretations or “construction” of events that are influenced by our schema and expectation when we remember them again.

Question 15

What is the meaning of omission?

Answer 15

when our brain leaves out unfamiliar, irrelevant and unpleasant info, as our schema simplifies this.

Question 16

Transformation of memories meaning?

Answer 16

Details of memory changed to make them more familiar and rational

Question 17

Familiarisation meaning?

Answer 17

Changing info to make it align with our schemas.

Question 18

Rationalisation meaning?

Answer 18

we add details into our recall to give a reason for something that may have not originally fitted with schema.

Question 19

what does primacy mean?

Answer 19

the tendency to recall words at the beginning of a list when asked to remember it.

Question 20

What does recency mean?

Answer 20

the tendency to recall words at the end of a list when asked to remember it.

Question 21

What are two strengths of Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory?

Answer 21

Real world practical application as it can help us understand why memory can become distorted.

He conducted his research using folk stories and images and then asking them to remember after shorter and long intervals. remembering stories is a realistic use of memory so his theory can be seen as ecologically valid.

Question 22

What are two weaknesses of Bartlett’s theory of reconstructive memory?

Answer 22

He analysed each story and picture himself and gave his own interpretation of the information participants recalled. Therefore his finding can be subjective, therefore reducing the reliability of his theory.

The research used to find this theory could be weak because he did not used standardised procedures or controls as he was more interested in participants memories.

Question 23

What was the aim of Peterson and Peterson?

Answer 23

To find the duration of STM

Question 24

What was the procedure of the Peterson and Peterson study?

Answer 24

• 24 students tested individually
• repeat out triagrams they heard (packets of three consonants)

-immediately afterwards they were asked to say out loud a three digit number and then count backwards in 3’s or 4’s. To prevent rehearsal.

-when signalled by red light student recalled triagram 8 times. They did it w time delays of - 3,6,9,12 and 18 seconds.

• in total, procedure was repeated 48 times using different triagrams
• a second experiment asked students to do same task but were given time to repeat the triagram before counting backwards.

Question 25

Why did Peterson and Peterson study use consonants?

Answer 25

They are non-words, making them harder to associate with meaningful content. They prevent participants from using semantic encoding (i.e., attaching meaning to aid memory), thus testing pure short-term memory. Consonants are non vowel letters.

Question 26

What are two findings or Peterson and Peterson ?

Answer 26

1- more time interval that they had to count backwards, the less they remembered. FOR EXAMPLE- 80% of triagrams were remembered after 3 secs but after 18 secs the correct number of triagrams recalled is 10% 2- extra time in second experiment increased frequency of recall because they were able to consolidate their memory, but showed similar decline.

Question 27

What are the strengths of Peterson and Peterson?

Answer 27

- used fixed timings for participants to count backwards and also eliminated noise and other factors that could’ve influenced memory. Research can therefore have good control and standardised procedures which increases reliability. - explains how distractions, especially verbal distractions can affect our ability to retain information, proving this has some degree of practical application.

Question 28

What is one weakness of Peterson and Peterson?

Answer 28

- triagrams not used in real life situations and so can be critics lacking mundane realism

Question 29

Aim of Bartlett war of ghosts study?

Answer 29

- wanted to test reconstructive memory w unfamiliar story to see effect schemas would have

Question 30

What experiment design did Bartlett use in his study and how?

Answer 30

- serial reproduction: parts were asked to read the story and then retell the story to another par 15-30 mins later. The second part told to a third part, and so on. -repeated reproduction: same par asked to write out story after 15 minutes, then asked to recall the story minutes, hours, days, months or even years later.

Question 31

What was procedure of Bartlett’s study?

Answer 31

- participants were asked to read the story twice. Later then asked to recall it using serial reproduction or repeated.

Question 32

What were the results of the Bartlett study

Answer 32

- used qualitative analysis and found parts in repeated repro group had maintained the same form and outline of the story in all the latter reproductions the same as the first - all parts usually added info to make sense of unusual parts of the story (rationalisation) -lots of transformations: hunting became fishing and canoe became boat.