Cognitive Psychology Studies/Theories

Multi-store model:

• Proposed a model of memory that explained 2 apsects of the memory system
• Suggest that there are 2 different stores known as 'control processes' through which info passes
• at each of these stages info can be lost (forgotten)
• each of these stores is proposed by a separate system (encoding, duration, capacity)
• encoding = form of representation used
• duration = how long an item lasts in the store
• capacity = how much info can be held in the store at 1 time

STSS duration & capacity (ICONIC STORE)

• Lab experiment
• Tested the two characteristics of stss
• Pps were told that they would see a matrix of 12 letters in 3 rows briefly
• Pps were then immediately asked to recall the matrix
• They could remember on average 4 letters
• However when asked to recall a certain row they could recall more (3 letters average)
• Suggests that as soon as the matrix disappeared pps had a clear memory of image but forgot by the time they got to the 4th letter
• Shows that duration of iconic store is in region of 0.5 seconds
• Shows although capacity of stss is small it can hold at least 12 pieces of info