● Explanation of the Multistore-Model (4).
● Strengths and weaknesses of the Multistore-Model (4).
The multistore model is an explanation of memory, made up of 3 storage
components, Sensory memory, Short term memory and Long term memory. Sensory
memory is the memories made through using the senses. Its capacity is unlimited
and its duration is only 0.5 - 2 seconds. Short term memory is encoded acoustically
and its duration is up to 30 seconds with a capacity of 7 +/- 2 items at any one time.
Lastly Long term memory is encoded semantically, with an unlimited duration and
capacity. Furthermore, there are multiple processes in this model. One of them is
maintenance rehearsal. To rehearse a memory you bring the information into your
short term memory store multiple times until it sticks in your long term memory.
Another process is retrieval. To retrieve a memory you bring a memory from your
long term memory into your short term memory.
Soda:
S - Supporting research -
State - There is considerable research to support the multi store model.
Explain - Explaining how the findings from HM support that STM and LTm are
separate stores.
Elaborate - Each storage component of the multistore model has a different
capacity, duration and encoding. Explain findings from different research for either
capacity or duration or encoding. (Sperling, Miller, Bahrick et al, Baddeley,
Baddeley.)
Link - as the MSM has research from different psychology with similar findings msm
has external reliability.
O - Opposing research-
State - there are problems with the research foundation of the MSM.
Explain - explain a problem with case studies. What impact does this have on the
multistore model? Case studies are idiographic meaning they are based on one
unique experience of a particular person or group of experience meaning they are
hard to generalise. Therefore it is hard to validly use the knowledge from case
studies on the multistore model which should reflect the experience of the whole
population when it comes to memory.
Elaborate - MSM also relies on laboratory experiments to test the capacity, duration
and encoding of the different stores. What might be a problem with studying memory
in a laboratory environment? - people may act differently in a lab to in the real world
because the participants know they are being tested on their memory. (Demand
Characteristics).