Evaluation - Multi store model of memory.
Supporting evidence:
The primacy and recency effect: | Researchers found that when people are presented with a list of items to recall in order P’s often begin by recalling the items at the end of the list known as the Recency Effect as these items are still in short term memory and then people recall the items at the beginning of the list known as the Primacy Effect as these are thought to have been transferred to long-term memory with some rehearsal however the items in the middle have been forgotten or we could say displaced because short term memory has a limited capacity so the new more recent items push out the middle items from short term memory this Primary and Recency Effect nicely demonstrates the idea of separate stores for short term and long term memory and thus supports the multi store model. |
Patient H.M.: | During childhood he was involved in a bike accident. This led to him developing epilepsy. Many of his seizures worsened over time to the point where medication was having little impact and left him with the option of surgery. However, when he had the surgery performed by Scoville and had specific parts of his brain removed, notably the hippocampus. Whilst it helped reduce his symptoms it left him with problems with his memory. He was unable to form any new long-term memories he could remember before the surgery, but he couldn't form memories after the surgery. His short-term memory was fine, but he couldn't transfer any of this info to long term memory.
This case study provides further support for the Multi store model as it demonstrates that there are separate stores for short-term memory and long-term memory. |
Has made an important contribution |
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Most modern researchers would agree that there is a basic distinction between STM and LTM in terms of capacity duration and encoding. |
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Opposing evidence
Artificial tasks
Peterson & Peterson (STM Duration) | This is because in trying to study memory in a way that is measurable and controlled it means that the tasks that the P’s are given are often very different from how our memory typically functions.
e.g. P’s had to recall the following letters:
P’s then being presented with a 3-digit number that you must count backwards from.
This probably isn't a task you've done before and is certainly not typical of the way we might use our memory on a day-to-day basis. This is a problem because it limits the extent to which the findings from such research can be generalized beyond the laboratory setting therefore the multi store model could be questioned because it's based on research that lacks ecological validity. |
Oversimplifies long term memory:
Procedural memories:
Episodic memories:
Semantic memories: | The multi store presents long term memory as a unitary store (a single unit) however the multi store model has been criticized for oversimplified view of long-term memory it as furthers research has demonstrated there are separate parts to long term memory.
These are memories for actions and motor skills such as how to tie your shoelace or ride a bike.
These are memories of personally experienced events for example what you did on your birthday last year.
These are memories for knowledge or fact-based information for example the capitol of Sweden is Stockholm.
Therefore, because the multi store model lacks detail about separate types of long-term memory its ability to fully explain how memory works can be questioned. |
Oversimplified STM:
Case study of KF: | This is because further research has demonstrated that there are separate parts to short term memory. For example:
He was involved in a motorcycle accident, resulting in damage to his STM, specifically verbal recall. When tested he was only able to recall two items verbally from short term memory. When his STM was tested with visual info his recall was mostly unaffected. As a result, this case study suggests that STM may have further components to it, perhaps for verbal and visual info. |