Cognitive Psychology: Coding, Capacity, Duration of Memory

Is the coding, capacity and duration of memory theory Credible?

Strength: Many studies carried out are empirical and can be falsified using scientific evidence. Scientific methods are used, variables are controlled, data is objective, etc.

Weakness: External validity is low because artificial stimuli are used and experiments are done in labs.

What is a weakness the coding, capacity and duration of memory theory? (Computer analogy)

Weakness: The computer analogy has been criticised as machine reductionist as it ignores the influence of emotion and motivation on the cognitive system and how this affects our ability to process information.

For example, research has shown that human memory may be affected by emotional factors such as the influence of anxiety on eyewitnesses.

Is the coding, capacity and duration of memory theory Applicable?

Strength: Cognitive psychology can be applied to eyewitness testimony and help the legal system and police to improve their methods to ensure innocent people are not wrongfully convicted.

What are the three different types of memory?

1. Sensory memory

2. Short term memory

3. Long term memory

What is the coding of memory?

The form in which memory is retained

What is the capacity of memory?

How much information the store can retain

What is the duration of memory?

How long the store can retain information for

What is the capacity, duration and coding of sensory memory?

Capacity: Unlimited

Duration: Up to 3 seconds

Coding: According to senses (modality free)

What is the capacity, duration and coding of short term memory?

Capacity: Limited, between 5-9 terms on average

Duration: Up to 30 seconds

Coding: Acoustically

What is the capacity, duration and coding of long term memory?

Capacity: Unlimited

Duration: Potentially a lifetime

Coding: Semantically

What does Miller (1956) evidence?

Researched capacity of STM.

Used the term '7 items plus or minus 2' to describe capacity of STM.

Investigated chunking in STM.

Did some research similar to that of Jacobs (1887).

What does Baddeley (1966) evidence?

Researched coding in STM.

Found that words were coded acoustically in STM.

Found that information was coded semantically in LTM.

Used word lists such as cat, cab, can in research on memory.

What does Peterson and Peterson (1956) evidence?

Researched duration of STM.

Used consonant syllables such as

BNT in their research.

Used counting backwards as a means of preventing rehearsal.

Found that STM lasts about 18 secs.