Unit 3 - Psychology PDF

Unit 3- Psychology The phenomenon of Memory - Memory is an indication that learning has persisted over time. It is our ability to store and retrieve information Studying Memory: information Processing Models - Encoding →Storage →Retrieval Incodeing: getting information in - How we...

Unit 3- Psychology The phenomenon of Memory - Memory is an indication that learning has persisted over time. It is our ability to store and retrieve information Studying Memory: information Processing Models - Encoding →Storage →Retrieval Incodeing: getting information in - How we Encode 1. some information is automatically processed (Ex: route to your home) 2. However, new or unusual information requires attention and effort (Ex. stages of memory) Automatic Processing - We process an enormous amount of information effortlessly, such as the following 1. Time: we unintentionally note the events that take place in a day 2. Space: while reading a textbook, you automatically encode the place of a picture on a page 3. Frequency- you effortlessly keep track of the things that happen to you Effortful Processing - Committing novel information to memory (E.g. learning about psychology) requires effort. Such processing leads to durable and accessible memories Rehearsal - Effortful learning usually requires rehearsal of conscious repetition - Ebbinghaus studied rehearsal by using nonsense syllables: TUV YOF GEK XOZ - The more times the nonsense syllables were practiced on Day 1, the fewer repetitions were required to remember them on day two Memory Effects 1. Spacing Effect: we retain information better when we distribute our rehearsal over time, rather than practicing in one long session 2. Serial Position Effect: when your recall is better for first (primary effect) and last (recency effect) items on a list, but poor for middle items How We Encode 1. Encoding by meaning 2. Encoding by images 3. Encoding by organization Encoding Meaning  - Processing the meaning of verbal information by associating it with what we already know or imagine. Encoding meaning (semantic encoding) results in better recognition later than visual or acoustic encoding Visual Encoding - Mental pictures (imagery) are a powerful aid to effortful processing, especially when combined with semantic encoding Organizing information for encoding - We break down complex information into broad concepts and further subdivide it into categories and subcategory 1. Chunking 2. Hierarchies Chunking - Acronyms are another way of chunking information to remember it Hierarchy - Complex information broken down into broad concepts and further subdivided into categories and subcategories Information Processing - The Atkinson-Shiffrin (1968) three-stage model of memory includes a.) sensory memory b.) short-term memory, and c.) long term memory. Modifications to the Three-Stage Model 1. Some information skips the first two stages and enters long-term memory automatically  2. Since we cannot focus on all the sensory information received, we select information that is important to us and actively process it. Because it is being actively processed, the term working memory is preferred over short-term memory Storage: Retaining Information - Storage is at the heart of memory. Three stores of memory are shown below - Sensory memory →working memory →long-term memory Sensor Memory - Ionic memory is a momentary sensory memory of visual stimuli lasting for a few tenths of a second - Echoic memory is a momentary sensory memory of auditory stimuli. Even if attention is elsewhere, sound and words can still be recalled within 3 or 4 seconds Whole Report - George Sperling (1960) showed research participants a block with 9 letters for a mere 50 milliseconds - The exposure time for the stimulus is so short that items cannot be rehearest yet they could see 4 letters on average Partial Report - When cued by a tone to recall 1 specific row, people typically could recall all 3 letters - Sperling (1960) argued that sensor memory capacity was larger that was originally thought - Time delay caused a significant drop Sensory Memory - The longer the delay the greater the memory loss Sensory memories - The duration of sensory memory varies for the different senses iconic - 0.5 sec. Long Echoic- 3-4 sec. Long Hapalic-