EVALUATING THE
MULTI STORE MODEL
BATs
A01 - Outline the Multi Store model of Memory (D)
Ao2 - Evaluate the Working Memory Model (C+)
A03 - Replicate and analyse a piece of research that supports
the WMM
hand in homework
please
NOW TRY SOME REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS!!
1.a. The diagram below illustrates the multi-store model of
memory. Write down the appropriate labels for A and B (2
marks)
Sensory
memory
A
B
Long-term
memory
1.b.Explain one strength of the multi-store model of memory
(2 marks)
EVALUATING THE
MSM
On the worksheet provided jot down at
least 3 positive criticisms of the MSM
(use last week’s notes)
Evidence for Multi-store model:
1. Primacy-Recency Effect - Atkinson (1970). When presented
with lists to remember we recall first and last items best. First items
rehearsed into LTM and last items recalled from STM. Ones in
middle less likely to be recalled. This is evidence for existence of
several stores.
2. Brown –Peterson Technique suggests that if rehearsal of items
is prevented then information does not enter LTM.
3. Amnesiacs caused by Korsakoffs Syndrome brought on by
chronic alcoholism display sound STM functioning but
impaired LTM. This suggests separate and distinct memory
stores.
Evidence for Multi-store model:
4. Scolville & Milner (1957) , Wicklegren (68) – The case of HM
Loss of LTM after surgery for epilepsy. Severe problems with
making new long term memories. STM mostly unaffected.
5. Brain imaging - STM and LTM can be linked to specific areas of the
brain.
• Beardsley (1997) - Prefontal cortex active when working on a
task in STM.
• Squire et al. (1992) – Hippocampus is active when LTM is
engaged.
6. Case of Clive Wearing - but does this case provide evidence for
or against the model?
EVALUATING THE
MSM
We will now need to look at Criticisms
In pairs can you think of any problems
with this model
NEGATIVE CRITICISMS OF
THE MSM MODEL
Make an effort to remember these today
as you may be asked to write an essay on
it later
1.Clinical case studies – Shallice and Warrington (1970)
– The case of KF – suggestion that there is more than
one type of STM.
2.MSM is over simplified – assumes a single STM and
LTM. Diff types of LTM (Procedural, episodic and
semantic). Clive Wearing able to play piano
SUGGESTED 4 LONG
TERM STORES
• Semantic memory – memory for knowledge
about the world, including knowledge about words
• Episodic memory – memory for what you did
yesterday or a film you saw last week
• Procedural memory – memory for riding a bike
or learning to read or play an instrument
• Perceptual-representation system (PRS)memory related to perceptual priming (enhanced
recognition of stimuli which have been seen before
e.g. if given the word TOBOGGAN and then later
able to recognise the word from –O-O-GA- - .)
Evidence against Multi-store Model:
More Negative Criticisms of the MSM
3. The ‘one-way’, linear direction of the MSM appears to be
incorrect: There is a two-way flow of info between STM and
LTM, Morris et al (1985).
Logie (1999) – STM relies on LTM so cannot come before it as
suggested in the MSM. Evidence for this is when chunking
letters to make acronyms. You need to recall the meaningful
groups of letters. The meanings are stored in LTM
4. Doesn’t help explain why we can remember things we have not
rehearsed. Rehearsal is not always needed to enable memories
to be transferred from STM to LTM e.g. smells cannot be
rehearsed, Flashbulb memories
Multi-store model is basic and limited in explaining
such a complex phenomenon as memory.
ESSAY TYPE
QUESTIONS
Strategies to use
Read the notes showing 2 ways of attacking an
essay type question
Use one of these strategies to write an essay for the
following question:
Outline and evaluate Atkinson and Shiffrin’s
Multi-store model of memory. (12 marks)
MINI MOCK
You have 30 minutes to answer the questions on the sheet
There is more or less a minute for each mark
Try your best
Working Memory - Baddeley &
Hitch (1974)
• An alternative to the Multi-store Model.
• Emphasises workings of STM.
• It is a far more complex explanation of STM.
• Baddeley and Hitch (1974) provide evidence for this by
people being able to carry out more than one task at
once where both tasks involve STM functions.
Working Memory - Baddeley &
Hitch (1974)
The term ‘working memory’ refers to that bit of
memory you use when working on a complex
task which requires you to store info as you go
along.
e.g. adding 15+ 14+ 35… you add the 15 and 14
and hold it in WM before adding the 35.
e.g when reading a sentence you store each word in
WM while you work out the meaning of the
sentence
13975284
BA
A follows B
True/false.
AB
B is not preceded by A True/false.
Now write down the sequence of
numbers you were originally asked
to recall.
13975284
WORKING MEMORY BADDELEY & HITCH (1974)
• According to Miller and his 7 +/- 2 theory and
Atkinson and Shiffrin the STM reached full
capacity so not all the info should be able to be
recalled and processed.
• Therefore the STM is more complex and may
have several subsystems that can operate
simultaneously.
• They studied the possibility of two subsystems in
particular which were governed by a central
controlling mechanism which they termed the
Central Executive .
Working Memory - Baddeley &
Hitch (1974)
STM not just one store, but a number of different
stores or SUBSYSTEMS each having a specialised
function.
Why did they think this?
When doing 2 tasks at the same time that are similar
e.g. both visual, performance is worse than when
doing them separately
E.g Visualising a football game on the radio when
driving caused Baddeley to veer off the road
When doing 2 different tasks e.g. visual and acoustic,
there is no interference and both are done equally
well.
PHONOLOGICAL
STORE
VISUO-SPATIAL
SKETCH PAD
CENTRAL EXECUTIVE
REHEARSAL
REHEARSAL
Working Memory - Baddeley &
Hitch (1974)
Over to you
you will need to report
what you find out to the
other groups
You will be given a number from 1-3
Everyone in group 1 will find out the role of the
Central Executive
Group 2 will find out about the Phonological loop
Group 3 will find out about the Visuo-Spatial
Sketchpad
The Central Executive
• This ‘fat controller’ is the boss and supervises
and coordinates the other subsidiary systems.
• The central executive decides which
information is attended to and which parts of
the working memory to send that information
to be dealt with.
• Has a very limited capacity
The two subsystems studied were named:
• the Visuo-spatial Sketchpad
• the Phonological/Articulatory Loop.
The Visuo-Spatial
Sketchpad
• Deals with what information looks like (visual)
and how it is laid out (spatial) E.g getting from
one room to another or counting the number of
windows in your house
• Top sportsmen rely on efficient visual-spatial
processing – they need to be able to visualise the
spatial relationship between objects when the
objects are in motion.
The Phonological Loop
• Holds spoken information for about 1.5 to 2
seconds.
• Preserves the order of information
• Written words must be converted to spoken words
to enter phonological loop.
• In ’86 Baddeley divided the phonological loop into:
• Phonological Store – holds words you hear (inner
ear)
• Articulatory Process – used for words heard or
seen, silently repeated (sub-vocal) – (inner voice)