Models of Memory ERQ (MSM)

What is memory in cognitive psychology?

A cognitive process involving the encoding, storage, and retrieval of information.

What is the Multi-Store Model (MSM) of memory?

A theory proposed by Atkinson & Shiffrin that explains memory as three distinct stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.

What is sensory memory (SM)?

Receives input from the five senses, has a limited capacity, and retains information for 3–4 seconds before it's either forgotten or passed to STM.

What is short-term memory (STM)?

Processes visual (iconic) and auditory (echoic) information, holds ~8 pieces of information for about 30 seconds, and requires rehearsal to transfer to LTM.

What is long-term memory (LTM)?

A store with unlimited capacity and potentially lifetime duration; information is retrieved from LTM back to STM when needed.

What was the aim of the Glanzer and Cunitz study?

To investigate whether STM and LTM are separate stores and to examine the recency effect in STM

What sample was used in Glanzer and Cunitz's study?

U.S. army enlisted men.

What was the procedure in the Glanzer and Cunitz study?

Participants viewed 15 common one-syllable words and recalled them under three conditions: immediate recall, 10-second delay, and 30-second delay (with a distractor task)

What were the results of the Glanzer and Cunitz study?

• Immediate recall: More words recalled.

• Delays: Fewer words recalled as time increased.

• Recency effect disappeared after 30 seconds, but primacy effect remained.

What are two strengths of the Glanzer and Cunitz study?

• Provides evidence that STM and LTM are distinct stores.

• High internal validity due to controlled design.

What are two weaknesses of the Glanzer and Cunitz study?

• Low ecological validity due to artificial word-list task.

• Limited generalizability from a homogenous sample (U.S. army men).

What was the aim of the Peterson and Peterson study?

To test the duration of STM and how rehearsal affects memory retention.

What was the procedure in the Peterson and Peterson study?

Participants saw trigrams (e.g., FDJ) and recalled them after 3 to 18 seconds while doing a distractor task (counting backward in threes).

What were the results of the Peterson and Peterson study?

• 3-second delay: 80% recall accuracy.

• 18-second delay: 10% recall accuracy.
  Conclusion: STM has a short duration without rehearsal.

What are two strengths of the Peterson and Peterson study?

• Standardized procedure = high replicability.

• Demonstrates limited STM duration.

What are two weaknesses of the Peterson and Peterson study?

1. Order effects (e.g., fatigue or practice).

2. Low ecological validity due to artificial tasks.

What is a major theoretical limitation of the MSM regarding STM?

It treats STM as a single unitary store, which is challenged by the Working Memory Model (WMM).

What are the main components of the Working Memory Model (WMM)?

• Central executive: Directs attention and processing.

• Phonological loop: Processes auditory info.

• Visuospatial sketchpad: Processes visual/spatial info.

What study supports the WMM over the MSM?

Shallice and Warrington (1970) – Case study of KF.

What did the case of KF reveal about STM?

KF had normal visual memory but impaired auditory memory, suggesting STM is not unitary.

How does STM capacity explain difficulty remembering phone numbers?

STM holds ~8 pieces of info, so longer phone numbers (~9+ digits) exceed its capacity, making them harder to recall.

Why are emergency numbers (e.g., 911) easy to remember?

They are designed to fit STM capacity (just 3 digits), making them easier to recall in stressful situations.

How has modern technology impacted STM use for phone numbers?

Phones store numbers for us, reducing the need to rehearse or remember them actively.