There are several factors that help us understand memory and how it works. The f
ID: 3471727 • Letter: T
Question
There are several factors that help us understand memory and how it works. The first is the different memory types such as sensory memory, short-term and long-term memory.
Explain the premise of the memory model that utilizes sensory, STM and LTM and compare and contrast it to the Levels of Processing (LOP) model.
Dan called information for a phone number and was still trying to remember the number he was given as he hung up. His friend started talking to him immediately, and now Dan can't remember the phone number.
Which of Dan's memory stores—sensory memory, STM, or LTM—do you think was most affected by his friend's talk? Why? Could Dan have done something different to keep from forgetting the phone number? Explain.
Melissa was disappointed after she received yet another D on a test. She had studied for several hours by reading and rereading her textbook and class notes.
Based on the LOP memory theory, why is Melissa's study not effective? What could she do differently? How?
Explanation / Answer
The case study, HM Milner (1970) supports the views that there is more than one store for memory. HM suffered brain damage due to surgery. After the surgery, HM was left with normal short term memory and only few memories from before the operation (which he had in order to stop seizures). HM was now unable to create new long term memories, which suggests that short term memory is separate too long term memory and is not one store. This shows that HM was unable to encode and transfer information, from short term memory to long term memory.This provides support for the multi- store model. Craik and Lockhart (1972) were not in full agreement for the multi- store model. Craik and Lockhart had a theory that the levels of processing were more complex and depended on how the information was given to how we would recall information back at later dates and times. They believed it wasn't just how many times it was repeated and rehearsed but how the information is being given as there are many levels of processing. Attkinson and Shiffrin (1971) Multi- store model suggests the capacity, duration and encoding are the key points to the short term memory and long term memory, where as the reconstructive model and levels of processing (Craik and Lockhart 1972) believe it is not just how deeply processed and relevant the word(s) are. The levels of processing model (Craik and Lockhart, 1972) focuses on the depth of processing involved in memory, and predicts the deeper information is processed, the longer a memory trace will last. Unlike the multi-store model it is a non-structured approach. The basic idea is that memory is really just what happens as a result of processing information. Memory is just a by-product of the depth of processing of information, and there is no clear distinction between short term and long term memory. We can process information in 3 ways: Shallow Processing- This takes two forms 1. Structural processing (appearance) which is when we encode only the physical qualities of something. E.g. the typeface of a word or how the letters look. 2. Phonemic processing – which is when we encode its sound. Shallow processing only involves maintenance rehearsal (repetition to help us hold something in the STM) and leads to fairly short-term retention of information. This is the only type of rehearsal to take place within the multi-store model. Deep Processing- This involves 3. Semantic processing, which happens when we encode the meaning of a word and relate it to similar words with similar meaning. Deep processing involves elaboration rehearsal which involves a more meaningful analysis (e.g. images, thinking, associations etc.) of information and leads to better recall.For example, giving words a meaning or linking them with previous knowledge. In conclusion,Levels of processing is based on the idea that the way information is encoded affects how well it is remembered. The deeper the level of processing, the easier the information is to recall. The theory is an improvement on Atkinson & Shiffrin’s account of transfer from STM to LTM. For example, elaboration rehearsal leads to recall of information than just maintenance rehearsal. The levels of processing model changed the direction of memory research. It showed that encoding was not a simple, straightforward process. This widened the focus from seeing long-term memory as a simple storage unit to seeing it as a complex processing system. Due to time limit,remaining questions can be asked as another question,they will be answered,thankyou for your cooperation