Memory Studies Evaluation Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Baddeley's study identified a clear difference between separate memory ______.

stores

Later research showed exceptions, but the idea that STM uses mostly ______ coding has stood the test of time.

acoustic

Baddeley's study used artificial stimuli, which implies limited ______ to real-world memory tasks.

application

Jacobs' study is considered a valid test of digit span within ______.

STM Signup and view all the answers

Nelson Cowan revised the estimate of STM capacity to about ______ chunks.

4 ± 1 Signup and view all the answers

The limitation of Peterson and Peterson's study was the use of artificial stimulus material, which led to a lack of external ______.

validity Signup and view all the answers

Bahrick et al.'s study is noted for its high external validity due to meaningful stimuli such as people's names and ______.

faces Signup and view all the answers

When studies on LTM were done with meaningless pictures, recall rates were ______.

lower Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

How does memory coding differ between STM and LTM?

Baddeley's study identified a difference between short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM) based on how information is processed. STM uses mostly acoustic coding (sounds), while LTM uses semantic coding (meaning).

What is a limitation of using artificial stimuli in memory research?

Using artificial stimuli like lists of words with no personal meaning may not accurately reflect how we code information in real-world situations.

What is a strength and limitation of Jacobs' digit span study?

The study by Jacobs repeatedly measured participants' digit spans to test short-term memory capacity, and his findings have stood the test of time. However, early research might have underestimated digit spans due to distractions.

What is the debate surrounding short-term memory capacity?

Miller's research initially suggested that short-term memory capacity is 7 ± 2 chunks, but later research by Cowan revised this estimate to 4 ± 1 chunks.

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What is a limitation of Peterson and Peterson's study on memory decay?

Peterson and Peterson's study used meaningless consonant syllables to investigate short-term memory decay, but the study's relevance to everyday memory is limited because most memories are meaningful.

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Why is Bahrick et al.'s study on long-term memory considered strong?

Bahrick et al.'s study on long-term memory used meaningful stimuli like names and faces, providing a more realistic estimate of LTM duration compared to studies with meaningless pictures.

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Study Notes

Evaluation of Memory Studies

Separate Memory Stores: Baddeley's study identified clear differences between memory stores. Later research found some exceptions, but the idea that STM uses mainly acoustic coding and LTM uses mainly semantic coding remains a key finding.
Artificial Stimuli: Baddeley's study used artificial stimuli (word lists). This limits its application to everyday memory tasks, as real-life memories are often more meaningful and use semantic coding.

Evaluation of Jacobs' Study

Valid Study: Jacobs' study has been replicated and further research has confirmed its findings, despite some early methodological issues. Studies with improved controls have produced similar results.

Evaluation of Miller's Research

STM Capacity: Miller's estimate of STM capacity (seven items) may be an overestimation. Research by Nelson Cowan (2001) suggests the capacity is closer to 4 chunks.

Evaluation of Peterson and Peterson's Study

Meaningless Stimuli: Peterson and Peterson's study used meaningless stimuli (consonant syllables). This lacks external validity as not all memory tasks involve meaningless information.

Evaluation of Bahrick et al.'s Study

High External Validity: Bahrick et al.'s study had high external validity, as it investigated meaningful memories (e.g., people's names and faces). This contrasts with other studies using meaningless stimuli. These results suggest a more realistic estimate of long-term memory duration compared to studies focusing on meaningless material.