Psychology Chapter 1 Memory Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is memory?

The process in which we retain information about events that have happened in the past.

What is the order of processes of memory?

Encoding, retrieval, storage

Encoding, storage, retrieval (correct)

Retrieval, storage, encoding

Storage, encoding, retrieval

What is encoding?

Changing information so that it can be stored in the brain.

Match the following types of encoding with their descriptions:

Visual encoding = See Acoustic encoding = Sound/hear Semantic encoding = Meaning of something (words, concepts) Tactile encoding = Feel Olfactory encoding = Smell Signup and view all the answers

What is storage?

Holding information in your memory so it can be retrieved at a later point in time. Signup and view all the answers

What is retrieval?

The process of accessing information that has been stored in your brain. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three different types of retrieval?

Free recall Signup and view all the answers

What is recognition?

Identifying something that you have previously experienced/learned. Signup and view all the answers

What is cued recall?

A 'trigger/clue' of information that allows you to access the memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is free recall?

When information is retrieved from your brain without any clues. Signup and view all the answers

What is long-term memory?

The LTM has a very large capacity and very long duration. Coding is mainly semantic. Signup and view all the answers

What is short-term memory?

The STM has a limited capacity (5-9) and duration is 30 seconds. Signup and view all the answers

What did Baddeley find from his experiment?

STM is encoded acoustically and LTM is encoded semantically. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of long-term memory?

Procedural memory Signup and view all the answers

What is episodic memory?

Involves the ability to recall specific events, personal experiences and episodes in your life. Signup and view all the answers

What is semantic memory?

Deals with general knowledge and facts. Signup and view all the answers

What is procedural memory?

'Muscle memory' meaning it plays a role in remembering how to do things. Signup and view all the answers

What is non-declarative memory?

Memory that doesn't need conscious recall. Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the multi-store model of memory?

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968). Signup and view all the answers

What does the multi-store model of memory consist of?

Three kinds of memory and an explanation about how information moves from one store to the next. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of process in memory?

How info moves from one store to the next. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of rehearsal?

Repetition keeps information in the STM. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by capacity in memory?

The amount of information that can be held in a memory store. Signup and view all the answers

What do people do if the information is unfamiliar to them?

They impose their own familiar expectations to make the story more familiar over time. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by interference in memory?

When forgetting occurs if two memories compete with each other. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how interference is linked to forgetting.

One memory prevents us from accessing another, reducing accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What was the aim of McGeoch and McDonald's study?

To see whether the accuracy of recalling a list of words would be affected by a competing set of words. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does a second activity have on the accuracy of memory?

It may reduce the accuracy of memory. Signup and view all the answers

What was the method used in McGeoch and McDonald's study?

Twelve participants learned a list of ten words with 100% accuracy, followed by a new list. Signup and view all the answers

What were the results of McGeoch and McDonald's study?

Participants' memory was affected by the new list, especially when the new words had similar meanings. Signup and view all the answers

What conclusion did McGeoch and McDonald's study reach?

Interference from a second set of information reduces memory accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What is context in relation to memory?

The general setting or environment in which activities happen. Signup and view all the answers

Can context increase the accuracy of memory?

True Signup and view all the answers

What was the aim of Godden and Baddeley's context experiment?

To see if context improved recall. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the method used in Godden and Baddeley's context experiment.

Eighteen divers listened to a list of 36 unrelated words either underwater or on the beach. Signup and view all the answers

What were the results of Godden and Baddeley's context experiment?

Recall was highest in matching conditions (dry/dry or wet/wet). Signup and view all the answers

What was concluded from Godden and Baddeley's context experiment?

Context acts as a trigger for recalling information, improving memory accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main findings of Godden and Baddeley's experiment?

Recalling information in the same context improves accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What are the issues with Godden and Baddeley's study?

Sample sizes, unnatural testing methods, short-term recall, effect limited to similar situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by false memories?

A memory for something that did not happen but feels like a true memory. Signup and view all the answers

What was the aim of Loftus and Pickrell's study on false memories?

To see if false memories could be created through suggestion. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the method of Loftus and Pickrell's study on false memories.

Twenty-four participants recalled real and one false childhood event provided by relatives. Signup and view all the answers

What were the results of Loftus and Pickrell's study on false memories?

Participants remembered 68% of true episodes; 6 recalled the false story. Signup and view all the answers

What was concluded from Loftus and Pickrell's study on false memories?

Imagining an event can implant a false memory, reducing accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Definition of Memory

Memory involves retaining information about past events.

Memory Processes

Three essential processes: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval.

Encoding

The transformation of information into a format suitable for storage in the brain.
Types of encoding include:
- Visual encoding: processing images.
- Acoustic encoding: processing sounds.
- Semantic encoding: processing meanings of words and concepts.

Storage

Storing information for future retrieval.

Retrieval

Accessing stored information from the brain when needed.
Types of retrieval:
- Recognition: identifying previously learned information.
- Cued recall: using prompts to retrieve information.
- Free recall: retrieving information without aids.

Long-Term Memory (LTM)

Has a large capacity and long duration, mainly coded semantically.
Permanent memory store.

Short-Term Memory (STM)

Limited capacity (5-9 items), lasts around 30 seconds, primarily acoustically coded.
Temporary storage; information may fade unless rehearsed.

Baddeley's Study on Encoding

Aim: Explore differences in encoding between STM and LTM.
Method: Four groups were tested on word recall immediately and after a delay.
Results: Better recall for semantically dissimilar words in LTM, indicating semantic coding over time.

Types of Long-Term Memory

Episodic memory: recall of personal and specific events.
Semantic memory: knowledge and facts about the world.
Procedural memory: skills and actions.

Multi-Store Model of Memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin)

Three memory stores: Sensory Register, STM, LTM.
Information flows from stimulus to sensory register, then STM, and finally LTM.

STM and LTM Characteristics

STM: Encodes acoustically, limited capacity/duration.
LTM: Encodes semantically, unlimited capacity/duration.

Rehearsal

A technique to maintain information in STM and transfer it to LTM through repetition.

Serial Position Effect (Murdock)

Recall is influenced by the position of words in a list, with higher recall for first (primacy effect) and last words (recency effect).

War of the Ghosts Study (Bartlett)

Aim: Investigate how memory is reconstructed over time, influenced by cultural expectations.
Method: Participants retold a culturally unfamiliar story over multiple sessions, revealing transformations in recall.
Conclusion: Memory is an active process, involving reconstruction of meaning rather than exact detail.

Schemas

Mental frameworks that help organize and interpret information.
Located in long-term memory, influencing how new information is understood.

Factors Affecting Memory Accuracy

Interference: Competition between memories can reduce recall accuracy.
Context: Environmental cues can enhance memory recall.

McGeoch and McDonald's Study on Interference

Aim: Test how a competing set of words affects recall accuracy.
Method: Participants learned an initial list before receiving a competing list of varying similarities.
Results: Similar information interfered most with recall, demonstrating effects of interference.

Godden and Baddeley's Context Experiment

Aim: Investigate if matching learning and recall environments improves accuracy.
Method: Divers learned a list of words in either wet or dry conditions and were tested in both environments.
Results: Higher recall in matching contexts, confirming the role of environment as a memory cue.### Godden and Baddely's Context Experiment
Contextual cues significantly enhance memory recall.
Recall accuracy improves when information is retrieved in the same environment where it was learned.
The relationship between context and memory suggests that environmental triggers facilitate the retrieval process.

Findings of Godden and Baddely's Experiment

Information recalled in the same context leads to higher recall accuracy.
Memory is positively influenced by contextual cues.
Context acts as an effective trigger for recalling learned information.

Issues with Godden and Baddely's Study

Sample sizes were limited, raising questions about generalizability.
Testing methods were artificial and may not reflect real-life memory retrieval.
Study primarily focused on short-term memory recall.
Effects observed may only apply to situations that closely resemble the original learning environment.

False Memories

A false memory is a recollection of an event that did not occur but is perceived as a genuine memory.

Aim of Loftus and Pickrell's Study on False Memories

The study aimed to explore the creation of false memories through suggestion in participants.

Method of Loftus and Pickrell's Study

Involved 24 participants (3 males and 21 females) aged 18 to 53.
Each participant's relative provided details for four childhood event stories, three of which were true and one fabricated about getting lost in a mall.
Participants recalled details of the stories initially, followed by an interview weeks later to assess memory retention.
A second interview asked participants to identify which story was false and included a debriefing about the fabricated story.

Results of Loftus and Pickrell's Study

Participants remembered 68% of 72 true episodes.
19 of the 24 participants identified the "lost in the mall" story as false.
Six participants were able to recall details of the false event, while the remainder had no memory of it.

Conclusion of Loftus and Pickrell's Study

Imagination can instill false memories, demonstrating that memory accuracy can be compromised by suggestive techniques.
The findings align with notions within reconstructive memory theory.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of memory with these flashcards. Explore key concepts such as encoding, storage, and retrieval, along with their definitions. This quiz is perfect for students studying psychology and looking to strengthen their understanding of memory processes.