A-Level Psychology Memory AO1 and AO3 Revision Flashcards

Comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, concepts, studies, and evaluations across A-Level Psychology memory topics.

Multi-Store Model

A model proposed by Atkinson & Shiffrin (1968) suggesting memory consists of three separate stores: the sensory register (SR), short-term memory (STM), and long-term memory (LTM), through which information moves via attention and rehearsal.

Sensory Register

A memory store that receives environmental information through the senses, possessing a very large capacity but a very short duration.

Short-Term Memory

A store for currently active thoughts with a limited capacity of $7 \times 2$ items (or $7 \times \text{or} \times 2$ items, specifically $7 \times 2$ items as $7 \times 2$ or $7 \times 2$ in standard text: $7 \times 2$) and a duration of around 18–30 seconds without rehearsal.

Long-Term Memory

A memory store with a potentially unlimited capacity and duration where information is retained and can be retrieved back into short-term memory when needed.

Maintenance Rehearsal

The process of repeatedly verbalizing or thinking about information to keep it in short-term memory and facilitate its transfer to long-term memory.

Squire

Researcher who used brain-scanning methods to provide evidence that distinct memory types involve different brain areas, giving scientific credibility to the Multi-Store Model.

Patient KF

A patient studied by Shallice & Warrington whose impaired verbal short-term memory alongside preserved visual memory indicated that short-term memory consists of multiple components.

Working Memory Model

A model developed by Baddeley & Hitch (1974) describing short-term memory as an active system composed of multiple specialized components.

Central Executive

The main control component of the Working Memory Model that directs attention, allocates resources to other sub-systems, and operates with a limited capacity.

Phonological Loop

A component of working memory that processes verbal and auditory information, comprised of the phonological store ('inner ear') and articulatory process ('inner voice').

Visuospatial Sketchpad

A working memory component responsible for processing visual and spatial details, such as shapes, colours, and physical locations.

Episodic Buffer

A component added to the Working Memory Model by Baddeley in 2000 that integrates visual, spatial, and verbal information with long-term memory into cohesive episodes.

Smith & Jonides

Researchers who used brain scanning to show distinct brain regions are activated during visual-spatial versus verbal working-memory tasks.

Proactive Interference

An effect occurring when older memories disrupt an individual's ability to recall newly learned information.

Retroactive Interference

An effect occurring when newly acquired information interferes with the retrieval of older memories.

McGeoch & McDonald (1931)

A study demonstrating that word recall was worst when participants learned a second list of material that was highly similar to the original list.

Tulving & Psotka

Researchers who showed that interference effects can be overcome using retrieval cues, indicating interference relates to temporary inaccessibility rather than permanent memory loss.

Encoding Specificity Principle

Tulving's principle stating that retrieval is optimal when cues available at recall match those present at the time of encoding.

Context-Dependent Forgetting

A form of retrieval failure occurring when the external environment at the time of recall differs from the environment during initial learning.

State-Dependent Forgetting

A form of retrieval failure occurring when a person's internal psychological or physiological state during recall does not match their state at encoding.

Godden & Baddeley (1975)

A study on deep-sea divers showing word recall was highest when learning and recall occurred in the same context (either underwater or on land).

Carter & Cassaday (1998)

A study using antihistamines to alter internal physiological states, finding recall was highest when internal states at encoding and recall matched.

J. A. Moore et al.

Researchers who highlighted the challenge of distinguishing context-dependent from state-dependent forgetting because external changes often induce internal state changes.

Leading Question

A question phrased in a way that suggests a desired answer or introduces post-event details that alter witness memory.

Loftus & Palmer (1974)

An experiment showing that varying verbs (e.g., 'hit' vs 'smashed') in speed estimation questions altered participants' speed estimates and caused memory distortion regarding non-existent broken glass.

Response Bias

An explanation stating that leading questions alter the answer provided by an eyewitness without actually modifying their underlying memory store.

Memory Distortion

An explanation stating that post-event information or leading questions alter the actual stored representation of a memory.

Haines & Sutherland

Researchers who found that leading questions do not affect every aspect of an eyewitness's memory equally.

Post-Event Discussion

Conversations between witnesses following an event, during which details from one person can become incorrectly integrated into another's memory.

Gabbert et al. (2003)

A study demonstrating that paired participants who discussed different videos of the same event often reported details they had learned from their partner rather than observed directly.

Memory Conformity

The tendency for witnesses to accept information from others after an event and falsely internalize it as their own direct observation.

Patterson & Kemp

Researchers who provided supporting evidence that post-event discussion distorts eyewitness memory accuracy.

Source Credibility

A concept supported by Wright and colleagues showing that individuals are more susceptible to misinformation when it originates from a source perceived as trustworthy or credible.

Weapon Focus

A phenomenon identified by Johnson & Scott (1976) where the presence of a weapon draws attention away from the perpetrator's face, impairing facial recognition.

Yuille & Cutshall (1986)

A study of witnesses to a real-life shooting in Canada finding that high levels of anxiety experienced during the event correlated with highly accurate recall months later.

Inverted-U Pattern

A theoretical model proposing that eyewitness performance is optimal at moderate anxiety levels, but impaired at extremely low or extremely high levels.

Christianson & Hubinette

A study of real bank robbery witnesses demonstrating that higher emotional arousal can lead to superior long-term memory recall.

Pickel (1998)

An experiment showing that unusual items (such as a raw chicken or scissors) reduced identification accuracy, suggesting unusualness rather than threat drives the weapon focus effect.

Cognitive Interview

A police interviewing system developed by Fisher & Geiselman (1992) consisting of four specific retrieval strategies to improve eyewitness memory accuracy.

Report Everything

A Cognitive Interview technique encouraging witnesses to include every detail of an event, even information that seems trivial or incomplete.

Reinstate the Context

A Cognitive Interview technique where the witness mentally places themselves back at the scene, recalling environmental and psychological conditions.

Enhanced Cognitive Interview

An adaptation of the Cognitive Interview incorporating social communication strategies such as rapport building, open questions, and avoiding interruptions.

Köhnken et al.

Researchers who performed a meta-analysis demonstrating that the Cognitive Interview yields significantly more correct information than standard police interviews.

Milne & Bull

Researchers who established that combining 'report everything' and 'context reinstatement' produced the most effective recall enhancements within the Cognitive Interview.