The Working Memory Model
Specification
Homework
A – Models of Memory
Read through the key points on p.24
1.
The multi-store model including
concepts of encoding, capacity and
duration. Strength and weaknesses of
the model
2.
The working memory model including
its strengths and weaknesses
‘Outline and evaluate the working memory
model’ (12 marks) (Exam board
example)
Starter
B – Memory in everyday life
1.
Eyewitness testimony and factors
affecting the accuracy of EWT
including anxiety and age of witness
2.
Misleading information and the use of
cognitive interview
3.
Strategies for memory improvement
Go into your memories and find…
1.
2.
3.
4.
One song you know most of the lyrics
to
One line from a book you could recite
One line from a film you could recite
A room you could completely picture
The Working Memory Model
Baddeley and Hitch questioned
what short term memory was for,
they contested Atkinsons and
Shiffrin’s model which looks at the
idea of STM as a unitary store
Dual task technique: participants
are asked to carry out a primary
task while also engaging in a
secondary task. Performance is
compared to performance on each
of the tasks when done
individually
Baddeley and Hitch claimed that
the case of KF (who had a digit
span of two yet could transfer
memory to his LTM) suggests that
STM is not a unitary store
To test this idea they
devised the dual task
technique
Lets try it!
Method:
Perform a reasoning task while simultaneously reciting aloud a list of six digits
Hypothesis:
If digit span is a measure of maximum STM capacity, participants would be expected to show
impaired performance on the reasoning task because their STM would be fully occupied with
retaining the six digits
Get into pairs/threes
Participant: Recite the number 482917 while ticking true/false on your sheet
Experimenter: Watch how long it takes the participant to complete the task and how many
answers are correct
Conclusions
STM must have more than one component and must be involved in processes other than simple
storage.
Baddeley and Hitch envisaged STM as a workspace where a variety of operations could be
carried out on both old and new memories.
Two tasks can be carried out simultaneously in STM provided that they are being dealt with by
different parts of the memory system.
Baddeley and Hitch envisaged LTM as passive store that maintains previously learned material
for use by the STM when needed.
The working memory model: Lets build it!
The working memory model has three main components:
1.
Central Executive
2.
Phonological Loop
3.
Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
Get into four groups and work on understanding the WMM using p. 19 - 20. You must draw a
diagram. You will then need to explain it to another group – prize for the best team!
Prepare for an exam question….
Central Executive
Phonological Loop
Visuo-spatial sketchpad
Articulatory
control
system
Where is the
evidence
loop)
to(articulatory
prove this model?
Inner scribe
Phonological store
Visual Cache
Eye on the Exam
A.) Outline key features of the working memory model. (6 marks)
AO1 = 6 marks For identification of components of the model and
brief outline of their function
Likely features are the three main components:
• Central executive, in charge of co-ordinating the other two slave
systems, involved in attention and higher mental processes. It has
limited capacity and can process information from any mode.
• Phonological loop involved in holding speech-based information and
articulatory control processes inner speech
• Visuo-spatial scratchpad deals with visual/spatial information and is
involved in pattern recognition, perception of movement.
Eye on the Exam
B.) Four of the statements are descriptions of different components
of the working memory model.
(4 marks)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Stores acoustically coded items for a short period
Stores and deals with what items look like and the physical
relationship between them
Encodes data in terms of its meaning
Acts as a form of attention and controls slave systems
Silently repeats works that are heard or seen
Components of working memory
model
Phonological store
Visuo-spatial sketch pad
Articulatory process
Central Executive
Descriptions of components
Evidence for the WMM
Work in three groups to conduct experiments which provide evidence
for the existence of:
1.
Central Executive (p.23)
2.
Phonological Loop (p.21)
3.
Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (p.21)
Phonological Loop
‘Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo’
Remember this?
Its stored in your phonological
loop!
Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad
Can you count how many
windows there are in your
home?
Its stored in your visuo-spatial
sketchpad!
Strengths and Weakness of the WMM
+ Strengths +
- Weaknesses -
+ Most cognitive psychologists now use the
term WM instead of STM
- Exact role played by the central executive
remains unclear
+ More plausible that the MSM as it explains
STM in terms of temporary storage
and active processing
+ Incorporates verbal reasoning as an
optional process in the articulatory
loop instead of being the sole means
of transferring information
+ Can account for findings that are difficult
for MSMs to explain
+ Evidence that PL plays a key role in the
development of reading, it is not
present in some children with dyslexia
+ Accounts for individual differences in
memory processing
- It is questionable whether the central
executive can be a single component or
whether there are separate verbal
and spatial working systems
- Cowan has suggested that in order to
explain abilities such as text
comprehension , working memory
should encompass some kind of long
term memory activation
- Berz criticises the model for failing to
account for musical memory because
we are able to listen to music without
impairing performance on other
acoustic tasks.
Eye on the Exam
Identify and explain one weakness of the working memory model
(4 marks)
Identify and explain one strength of the working memory model
(4 marks)
You’re hired…???
The US air force has devised a WMM test, which it uses to test it
potential employees
Consider the following questions:
1.
What sort of things are the US air force wanting to test in their
potential employees?
2.
What results would they be looking for in an ideal applicant?
3.
Do you think a WMM test is a good way to test potential
employees?
4.
Would you get in? Why?