Memory Flashcards
Coding
The format in which information is stored.
Who Did Research On Coding?
Baddely
Process of Baddely’s Experiment on coding
Group 1 - Accoustically similar Group 2 - Acoustically disimilar Group 3 - Semantically similar Group 4 - Semantically disimilar They were given a list of original words in wrong order. Had to recall in correct order. (LTM 20 Min Interval)
Result of Baddley’s Experiment For coding STM
Confusion between acoustically similar words
Result of Baddley’s Experiment for coding in LTM
Confusion between semantially similar words
Conclusions for Baddley’s Experiment on coding
STM - Acoustic confusion, coded acoustically
LTM - Semantic confusion, coded semantically
Positive Evaluation for Baddley’s Experiment on coding
Cause and effect is shown.
Replicable
Makes cognitive sense - Shopping list = words aloud. Recall of book = recall of plot
Negative Evaluation of Baddley’s Experiment on coding
Artificial Stimuli - Cautious about generalising
Lacks EV
Small difference in recall between semantic lists = semantic coding is STM.
What is Capacity?
Amount of information that can be held.
Research for Capacity
Jacobs and Miller
Method for Jacob’s Study on capacity
Aim - See how much info STM can hold at one time
Developed a technique - Digit Span
Research gave a certain number of digits then the PP recalled in correct order. If recalled correctly, amount of digits increased. Determines individuals digit span.
Results of Jacob’s Study on capacity
- 3 letters
9. 3 words
Positive Evaluation(s) of Jacob’s Study on capacity
Supported by other research - More validity
Negative Evaluation(s) of Jacob’s Study on capacity
Conducted a long time ago - Lacked adequate control
Lacks EV - Lacks Mundane realism
May not have controlled for confounding variables - reduces validity
What Did Miller’s Study Discover?
Instead as keeping the information as individuals, the unit of informaiton can be increased by chunking.
What is Miller’s Magic Number?
7 +/- 2 (5-9 chunks)
Evaluation Points For Miller’s Study
Evaluation Points For Miller’s Study
Lacks EV
Miller may have overestimated STM capacity
Cowan reviwed the research and found it was only 4 chunks.
Evaluation of Capacity
Other factors at play - Age and practice effects
Nowadays limitations of STM seen as due to processing limitations associated with STM
What is Duration?
Length of time information can be held
Who Conducted STM Duration Research?
Peterson and Peterson
Method for Peterson and Peterson’s Study on duration
Each student was given a nonsense triagrams (3 consenants), as well as a 3 digit number. The student had to count backwards from this number (prevents mental rehearsal) told to stop counting at different intervals.
Results for Peterson and Peterson’s Study on duration
Amount recalled correctly:
3 seconds - 90%
18 seconds - 5%
(Significant difference between them)
Conclusion for Peterson and Peterson’s Study on duration
STM has a very short duration unless it is rehearsed, I.e. Mental Rehearsal.
Positive Evaluation of Peterson and Peterson’s Study on duration
Operationalised - Replicable
Controlled for confounding variables (counting backwards)
People do try and remember phone numbers - relevance