Memory: MSM

Question 1

Sensory store duration study

Answer 1

Sperling - grid of digits and letters, limited time viewing, either recall one row or whole thing. Recall poorer with more to remember. Suggests information decays rapidly in sensory store.

Question 2

Distinction between STM and LTM study

Answer 2

Glanzer and Cunitz - List of words presented one at a time, tend to remember those from start and end not middle. Primary effect = words best rehearsed and transferred to LTM. Recency effect = words still in STM upon recall.

Question 3

Relevance of PET scans?

Answer 3

Demonstrate existence of separate stores. Different parts of brain active whilst doing different tasks.

Question 4

KF

Answer 4

Bike accident, process visual not verbal, suggests different parts of STM (opposes MSM)

Question 5

HM

Answer 5

Operation in brain, parts removed. Access LTM. Extremely limited STM - no new memories. Supports idea of separate stores (and MSM).

Question 6

3 Strengths

Answer 6

1. strong evidence for the 3 separate stores
2. provides account of memory in both structure and process
3. clear predictions made, easily testable

Question 7

3 Limitations

Answer 7

1. oversimplifies memory
2. evidence suggests STM is not a unitary store, amnesia patients demonstrate different kinds of LTM
3. lacks validity; research relevant to everyday memory activity but not all aspects of memory, research typically on students so lacks population validity