PSYA1: Memory 2011

Multi-Store Model

Atkinson and shiffrin's multi-store model of memory makes a distinction between the separate stores of sensory, short and long-term memory. Information is passed through rehearsal.

Sensory Memory->Short-Term Memory-(Rehearsal)->Long-Term Memory

The Short-Term Memory.

Capacity is 7 + or - 2. This was supported by Jacobs. In addition, Miller coined "chunking" to explain memorizing larger amount of information such as phone numbers.

Duration is 30 seconds. This was supported by Peterson and Peterson and their experiment with trigrams. Found 80% recall in 3 seconds and less than 10% after 18 seconds.

Encoding is mainly acoustic. This was supported by Conrad's acoustically similar and dissimilar words.

The Long-Term Memory

Capacity is unlimited. 

Duration is up to a life time. This was suported by Bahrik's recall of old school photos. Found 90% recall after 15 years after school and a 75% recall after 48 years.

Encoding is mainly semantic. supported by Baddeley's semantically similar and dissimilar words. Semantic words were recalled the worst. suggesting long term memory is semantic

STM and LTM are separate

Short term and long term memory are unitary stores. This was proven by Glanzer and Cunitz's Primary and recency effect (primary words were long term memory and recency were in the short term…