The Working Memory ModelSpecification

A – Models of Memory

1. The multi-store model including concepts of encoding, capacity and duration. Strength and weaknesses of the model

2. The working memory model including its strengths and weaknesses

B – Memory in everyday life

1. Eyewitness testimony and factors affecting the accuracy of EWT including anxiety and age of witness

2. Misleading information and the use of cognitive interview

3. Strategies for memory improvement

Homework

Read through the key points on p.24

‘Outline and evaluate the working memory model’ (12 marks) (Exam

board example)

Starter

Go into your memories and find…

1. One song you know most of the lyrics to

2. One line from a book you could recite

3. One line from a film you could recite

4. A room you could completely picture

The Working Memory Model

Baddeley and Hitch questioned what short term memory was for, they contested Atkinsons

and Shiffrin’s model which looks at the idea of STM as a unitary

store

Baddeley and Hitch claimed that the case of KF (who had a

digit span of two yet could transfer memory to his LTM) suggests that STM is not a

unitary store

To test this idea they devised the dual task

technique

Dual task technique: participants are asked to carry out a primary task while also engaging in a secondary task. Performance is compared to performance on each of the tasks when done individually

Lets try it!Method:

Perform a reasoning task while simultaneously reciting aloud a list of six digits

Hypothesis:If digit span is a measure of maximum STM capacity, participants would be expected to

show impaired performance on the reasoning task because their STM would be fully occupied with retaining the six digits

Get into pairs/threesParticipant: Recite the number 482917 while ticking true/false on your sheet

Experimenter: Watch how long it takes the participant to complete the task and how many answers are correct

ConclusionsSTM must have more than one component and must be involved in processes other

than simple storage. Baddeley and Hitch envisaged STM as a workspace where a variety of operations could

be carried out on both old and new memories.Two tasks can be carried out simultaneously in STM provided that they are being dealt

with by different parts of the memory system. Baddeley and Hitch envisaged LTM as passive store that maintains previously learned

material for use by the STM when needed.

The working memory model: Lets build it!The working memory model has three main components:

1. Central Executive2. Phonological Loop

3. Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

Get into four groups and work on understanding the WMM using p. 19 - 20. You must draw a diagram. You will then need to explain it to another group – prize for

the best team!Prepare for an exam question….

Where is the evidence to prove

this model?

Central Executive

Phonological Loop

Articulatory control system (articulatory loop)

Phonological store

Visuo-spatial sketchpad

Inner scribe

Visual Cache

Eye on the Exam

A.) Outline key features of the working memory model. (6 marks)

AO1 = 6 marks For identification of components of the model and brief outline of their function

Likely features are the three main components:

• Central executive, in charge of co-ordinating the other two slave systems, involved in attention and higher mental processes. It has limited capacity and can process information from any mode.

• Phonological loop involved in holding speech-based information and

articulatory control processes inner speech

• Visuo-spatial scratchpad deals with visual/spatial information and is involved in pattern recognition, perception of movement.

Eye on the Exam

B.) Four of the statements are descriptions of different components of the working memory model.

(4 marks)

A. Stores acoustically coded items for a short periodB. Stores and deals with what items look like and the physical

relationship between themC. Encodes data in terms of its meaningD. Acts as a form of attention and controls slave systemsE. Silently repeats works that are heard or seenComponents of working memory model

Descriptions of components

Phonological store

Visuo-spatial sketch pad

Articulatory process

Central Executive

Evidence for the WMM

Work in three groups to conduct experiments which provide evidence for the existence of:

1. Central Executive (p.23)2. Phonological Loop (p.21)

3. Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad (p.21)

Phonological Loop

‘Romeo, Romeo, Wherefore art thou Romeo’

Remember this?Its stored in your

phonological loop!

Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad

Can you count how many windows there are in

your home?

Its stored in your visuo-spatial sketchpad!

Strengths and Weakness of the WMM+ Strengths +

+ Most cognitive psychologists now use the term WM instead of STM

+ More plausible that the MSM as it explains STM in terms of temporary

storage and active processing

+ Incorporates verbal reasoning as an optional process in the articulatory

loop instead of being the sole means of transferring information

+ Can account for findings that are difficult for MSMs to explain

+ Evidence that PL plays a key role in the development of reading, it is not

present in some children with dyslexia

+ Accounts for individual differences in memory processing

- Weaknesses -

- Exact role played by the central executive remains unclear

- It is questionable whether the central executive can be a single

component or whether there are separate verbal and spatial working

systems

- Cowan has suggested that in order to explain abilities such as text

comprehension , working memory should encompass some kind of

long term memory activation

- Berz criticises the model for failing to account for musical memory

because we are able to listen to music without impairing

performance on other acoustic tasks.

Eye on the Exam

Identify and explain one weakness of the working memory model(4 marks)

Identify and explain one strength of the working memory model(4 marks)

You’re hired…???

The US air force has devised a WMM test, which it uses to test it potential employees

Consider the following questions:1. What sort of things are the US air force wanting to test in

their potential employees?2. What results would they be looking for in an ideal applicant?

3. Do you think a WMM test is a good way to test potential employees?

4. Would you get in? Why?