SIVYER PSYCHOLOGY

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INTRODUCTION TO MEMORY

Rebecca Sivyer

STUDY TIP: In this unit, memory is investigated with the cognitive approach. Look out for studies that use any of the following cognitive research methods:

  • Experimental cognitive psychology

  • Cognitive computer science

  • Cognitive neuropsychology

  • Cognitive neuroscience

Remember that each of these methods have very specific criticisms and positives. For example experimental cognitive psychology is often negatively evaluated because of the artificial nature of laboratory studies, therefore lots of the studies outlined below may lack mundane realism and ecological validity. Moreover many experimental cognitive psychology lab studies suffer from demand characteristics, social desirability bias, investigator effects and the Hawthorne effect. On the plus side, lab studies can be replicated as the experimenter has full control of all variables.

Likewise case studies from the field of cognitive neuropsychology might not be generalisable to anybody but the individual studied. Moreover case studies are non-experimental so cause and effect cannot be established.

Lastly, research from the discipline of cognitive neuroscience is very scientific as scans on healthy individuals can be replicated and show biological structures in the brain in real time.

Finally, remember to apply the above criticisms to specific research as non-applied A03 is not credited.

AQA MEMORY SPECIFICATION: (what you need to know)

  • TYPES OF MEMORY: Sensory Register, Short-Term Memory and Long-Term Memory.

  • FEATURES OF EACH MEMORY STORE: Coding, Capacity and Duration.

  • MODELS OF MEMORY: The Multi-Store Model of Memory

  • TYPES OF LONG-TERM MEMORY: Episodic, Semantic, Procedural.

  • MODELS OF MEMORY: The Working Memory Model – including The Central Executive, Phonological Loop, Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad and Episodic Buffer. Features of the model: coding and capacity.

  • EXPLANATIONS FOR FORGETTING: Proactive and Retroactive Interference and Retrieval Failure due to absence of cues.

  • FACTORS AFFECTING THE ACCURACY OF EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY: Misleading Information, including Leading Questions and Post-Event Discussion

  • FACTORS AFFECTING THE ACCURACY OF EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY: Anxiety.

  • IMPROVING THE ACCURACY OF EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY: The Cognitive Interview