Past Paper Exam Questions
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PAST PAPER EXAM QUESTIONS COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY STM AND LTM: DURATION, CAPACITY AND ENCODING OF MEMORY January 2009 1 A B C D The following are all concepts relating to memory: Duration Capacity Encoding Retrieval 1 (a) In the table below, write which one of the concepts listed above (A, B, C or D) matches each definition. (2 marks) DEFINITION The length of time the memory store holds information Transforming incoming information into a form that can be stored in memory CONCEPT June 2009 NO QUESTIONS January 2010 2 A case study was carried out on Peter whose brain was damaged in a motorcycle accident. Psychologists tested how many numbers he could hold in his short-term memory. They did this by reading him lists of numbers and asking him to recall the numbers immediately in the right order. He could recall a maximum of two items. The psychologists found that his long-term memory was normal. 2 (a) How was Peter’s short-term memory after the accident different from most adults’ short-term memory? (2 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. June 2010 3 A researcher carried out an experiment to investigate how many numbers could be held in short-term memory. The participants were 15 children and 15 adults. Participants were asked to repeat lists of random numbers, in the correct order, as soon as they were read out by the researcher. For example, when the researcher said, “3, 4, 2, 8” the participant immediately repeated “3, 4, 2, 8”. When the researcher then said, “7, 5, 9, 6, 4” the participant immediately repeated “7, 5, 9, 6, 4”. One number was added to the list each time until participants were unable to recall the list correctly. Each participant’s maximum digit span was recorded. 3 (e) Do the results of this experiment support the findings of other research into the capacity of short-term memory? Explain your answer. (2 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Describe one way in which psychologists have investigated the duration of short-term memory. In your answer, you should include details of stimulus materials used, what participants were asked to do and how duration was measured. 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January 2011 NO QUESTIONS MULTI-STORE MODEL OF MEMORY January 2009 1 (b) Outline the main features of the multi-store model of memory. 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The following example illustrates a possible criticism. Some students read through their revision notes lots of times before an examination, but still find it difficult to remember the information. However, the same students can remember the information in a celebrity magazine, even though they read it only once. Explain why this can be used as a criticism of the multi-store model of memory. 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June 2009 NO QUESTIONS January 2010 2 A case study was carried out on Peter whose brain was damaged in a motorcycle accident. Psychologists tested how many numbers he could hold in his short-term memory. They did this by reading him lists of numbers and asking him to recall the numbers immediately in the right order. He could recall a maximum of two items. The psychologists found that his long-term memory was normal. 2 (b) Does this case study support the multi-store model of memory? Explain your answer. 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June 2010 1 This is a diagram of Atkinson and Shiffrin’s multi-store model of memory. (3 marks) C A B From the following list, select the appropriate labels for A, B and C. Write A, B or C in the three correct boxes. Secondary memory Long-term memory Recognition Rehearsal loop Central executive Sensory memory Short-term memory January 2011 4 Jamie wanted to contact his doctor. He looked up the number in his telephone directory. Before he dialled the number, he had a short conversation with his friend. Jamie was about to phone his doctor, but he had forgotten the number. Use your knowledge of the multi-store model to explain why Jamie would not remember the doctor’s number. 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WORKING MEMORY MODEL January 2009 NO QUESTIONS June 2009 2 A brain scan shows that one area of the brain is more active when a person is doing a verbal task. However, when this person is doing a visual task, a different area of the brain is more active. 2 (a) Explain how this could relate to the working memory model. Refer to different parts of the working memory model in your answer. 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(1 mark + 1 mark) Verbal task ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. Visual task ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. January 2010 1 (a) Tick two of the boxes below to indicate which of the following are features of the working memory model. (2 marks) A Serial position curve B Incidental learning store C Central executive D Phonological loop 1 (b) Explain one strength and one weakness of the working memory model. (4 marks) Strength ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 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EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY January 2009 2 Outline how one research study investigated the accuracy of eyewitness testimony (EWT). (4 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. June 2009 4 Outline and evaluate research into the effects of anxiety on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. (12 marks) You may use this space to plan your answer ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 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January 2010 3 (e) Describe what research has shown about the effect of the age of witnesses on the accuracy of eyewitness testimony. (6 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. June 2010 5 An American space shuttle exploded soon after it was launched. All of the astronauts on board were killed. Crowds of people were watching, including friends and relatives of the astronauts. Six months after the explosion, a student decided to investigate the accuracy of some of the eyewitnesses’ memory of this event. 5 (b) Explain how anxiety might have affected eyewitness testimony of this event. Refer to psychological research in your answer. (6 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 (c) Explain why it might be better to carry out research into eyewitness testimony in the real world, rather than in a laboratory. 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January 2011 NO QUESTIONS COGNITIVE INTERVIEW January 2009 5 Traditionally, police have questioned eye witnesses using the standard interview procedure. This involves a period of free recall about an event, followed by specific questions. However, an increasing number of police forces are now using the cognitive interview technique. 5 (a) Explain how a cognitive interview differs from a standard interview. (4 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 (b) Psychologists have carried out research into the use of cognitive interviews. One possible ethical issue which might arise during this research is protection of participants from harm. Explain how psychologists could deal with this ethical issue. 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June 2009 1 Cognitive interviews have been developed to improve witness recall. Identify and explain two techniques used in the cognitive interview. (3 marks + 3 marks) Technique 1 ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. Technique 2 ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. January 2010 NO QUESTIONS June 2010 5 An American space shuttle exploded soon after it was launched. All of the astronauts on board were killed. Crowds of people were watching, including friends and relatives of the astronauts. Six months after the explosion, a student decided to investigate the accuracy of some of the eyewitnesses’ memory of this event. 5 (a) Outline how the student could have used a cognitive interview to investigate this event. (4 marks) Include at least one example of what the participants would be asked to do. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. January 2011 3 Psychologists carried out a laboratory experiment to investigate the effectiveness of cognitive interviews. All participants watched the same film of a robbery. They were randomly allocated to Group One or Group Two. Participants were then asked to recall the robbery. The investigators used a cognitive interview to access recall of participants in Group One and a standard interview to access recall of participants in Group Two. The results of this experiment are summarised in Figure 1 below. Figure 1 Average number of correct and incorrect statements made by participants under two different interview conditions 45 40 35 Average number of statements made by participants 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Cognitive Interview Standard Interview = Correct statements = Incorrect statements 3 (c) Explain what the results suggest about the effectiveness of the cognitive interview. (2 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. 3 (d) Participants in the standard interview were simply asked to describe what happened in the film. Suggest one way in which participants in the cognitive interview condition could have been asked to recall what happened. (2 marks) ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. ................................................................................................................................................................................. IMPROVING MEMORY January 2009 4 A student teacher finds it very difficult to remember pupils’ names. She decides to look in a psychology book to find some useful strategies for improving her memory. Outline one strategy the student teacher could use, and explain why this might improve her memory for pupils’ names. 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June 2009 NO QUESTIONS January 2010 4 Psychologists have suggested various strategies for memory improvement. Outline one or more ways to improve memory. 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June 2010 2 Describe strategies for memory improvement. 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January 2011 2 Describe two strategies for improving memory. 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