Working Memory Model

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working Memory Model

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  • Created by: Kate
  • Created on: 26-04-13 11:44

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working Memory Model

Advantages

  • Identifies complexity of STM
  • WMM explains why it is easier to do two tasks which different (verbal and visual) that doing two tasks that are similar
  • Supporting evidence shows that the central executive is important for remembering positions, not the phonological loop, so they are different components. (Robbins et al.)
  • Explains the word length effect (people remember more short words than long words when the STM is tested.)
  • Central executive links memory with attention

Disadvantages

  • Visuo-Spatial sketchpad is not as explained as well as the other slave systems.
  • Could still be oversimplified-not much detail about how LTM works or how it combines with STM
  • Central executive is not clearly defined and doesn't really explain anything.
  • Central executive is labelled the most important even though it has the least research to support this.

Evaluation

The working memory model explains why we find it easier to complete two different tasks (such as visual and verbal) rather than two similar tasks, as they are performed by different components of the STM.  This is also supported by the word length effect because people cope better at remembering shorter words rather than longer words.  This shows that the phonological loop has a limited capacity.  The central executive has some research to show its importance , such as Robbins et al study, but it is not clearly explained and has the least research to support it.  Although the WMM is more detailed than the MSM, it still oes not give enough detail about how the LTM works or how it combines with the STM.

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