Psychologists use models to explain how memory works — how information is encoded, stored and retrieved. This lesson covers the multi-store model and the working memory model.
1. The processes of memory
- Encoding — converting information into a usable form for storage.
- Storage — retaining the encoded information over time.
- Retrieval — recovering stored information when needed.
2. The multi-store model (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968)
This model proposes three separate stores through which information flows:
| Store | Duration | Capacity | Encoding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensory register | Several hundred milliseconds | Very large (captures all sensory experience) | Sensory (iconic = visual, echoic = auditory) |
| Short-term memory | Limited (seconds) | Limited (around 7 items) | Mainly acoustic |
| Long-term memory | Much greater / virtually unlimited | Not limited to sensory experience, making it larger | Can be sensory but mainly semantic |
Long-term memory divides into implicit (procedural — how to do things) and explicit/declarative memory, which is either semantic (facts and meanings) or episodic (personal events).
3. The working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974; Baddeley, 2000)
This model expands short-term memory into an active, multi-component system:
- Central executive — directs attention and coordinates the other components.
- Phonological loop — processes auditory and verbal information.
- Visuospatial sketchpad — processes visual and spatial information.
- Episodic buffer — (added in 2000) integrates information across the components and links to long-term memory.
Work through these together.
Classifying long-term memories
For each, decide as a class which type of long-term memory is being used (semantic, episodic, or procedural):
- Knowing that Perth is the capital of Western Australia.
- Riding a bicycle without thinking about it.
- Remembering your first day at this school.
Matching components of working memory
For each task, identify which working-memory component is most involved:
Rehearsing a phone number by repeating it:
Picturing the layout of your bedroom:
Deciding which task to focus on first:
Answer independently, using examination-style directive verbs.
Q1. Name the researchers responsible for the multi-store model of memory. (1 mark)
Q2. Contrast the duration, capacity and encoding of the sensory register with those of long-term memory. (6 marks)
Q3. State three types of long-term memory and identify a situation in which each would be used. (6 marks)
Q4. Name the four components of the working memory model and state the function of each. (8 marks)