Memory - Coding, capactity, duration

Question 1

what is coding

Answer 1

the way in which memory is stored

Question 2

what is the research into coding

Answer 2

Alan Baddeley (1966)
- gave different words to 4 groups
- acoustically similar, acoustically dissimilar, semantically similar, semantically dissimilar

• pps struggled to remember acoustically similar words when recalling from STM
• pps struggled to remember semantically similar words in LTM

Question 3

what is the evaluation of Baddeley’s study into coding

Answer 3

• identified a clear difference in the memory stores
• STM uses acoustic coding
• LTM uses semantic coding
• used artificial stimuli rather than meaningful material

Question 4

what is capacity

Answer 4

the amount of information that can be held in a memory store

Question 5

what is the research into capacity

Answer 5

Digit Span test - Joseph Jacobs (1887)
- mean number of digits recalled in correct order was 9.3
- mean number of letters recalled in correct order was 7.3

George Miller (1956)
- span of STM is 7+/- 2 items

Question 6

what is the evaluation of research into capacity

Answer 6

• Jacob’s study has been replicated
• Miller’s research may have overestimated STM capacity
• other research and concluded that the capacity of STM is 4+/- 1

Question 7

what is duration

Answer 7

the length of time information can be held in memory

Question 8

what is the research of duration of long term memory

Answer 8

• Harry Bahrick et al (1975)
• 392 American participants between 17-74
• photo recognition tests
• free recall test - recall people
• tested within 15 years of graduation 90% accurate in photo recognition, 48 years was 70%

Question 9

what is the research of duration of short term memory

Answer 9

Margaret and Peterson (1959)
- recall syllables and numbers after a set number of seconds
- after 3 seconds recall was 80%
- after 18 seconds recall was 3%

Question 10

evaluation of research into duration

Answer 10

Peterson
- artificial situation
- lacks external validity

Bahrick et al
- high external validity
- investigated meaningful memories

Question 11

what are the features of short term memory

Answer 11

• coded acoustically
• duration of 18 seconds
• capacity of 7+/-2

Question 12

what are the features of long term memory

Answer 12

• coded semantically
• duration infinite
• capacity infinite