2.1.1 - Working Model Memory

Who created the WMM?

Baddeley and Hitch

What did they propose?

• Short term memory isn’t a singular store

• Made of several components with different roles

• Explains how info is processed actively rather that sorting it

What are the three main components?

• Central Executive

• Phonological Loop

• Visuospatial Sketchpad

Explain the central executive?

• Acts as control system

• Decides where info goes and directs attention

• Limited capacity

• Doesn’t store info itself

Explain phonological loop?

• Auditory and verbal info

• Limited capacity

• Used for language/ words

2 parts:

• Phonological Store - stores spoken words

• Articulatory process - repeats words to keep them in memory

Explain visuospatial sketchpad?

• Deals with visual/ spatial information

• Limited capacity

• Used for shapes, images, and movement

Why is this model important?

• Two tasks can be done at the same time if they use different components

• Explain dual- task performance

Evaluation: List a strength?

Strengths:

• Evidence from brain damaged patients

• KF had difficulty with verbal information but could process visual information

• Showing visuospatial sketchpad and phonological loop are different systems

• Supporting the multicomponent nature of the model

Evaluation:

List some weaknesses?

• Central Executive not fully explained and may actually consist of multiple components

• Oversimplified

• Difficult to test scientifically

Limits ecological validity -

• Much research comes from controlled laboratory experiments