Multi-store Model of Memory

The Multi-Store Model (MSM) was a product of cognitive psychology’s “information-processing” approach. What key assumption does this approach make?

• Memory operates through conscious effort only

• The human mind functions similarly to a computer system

• Behaviour is best explained by reinforcement

• Emotions determine all recall

According to Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968), what process determines whether sensory information passes to short-term memory?

• Rehearsal

• Attention

• Retrieval

• Chunking

The iconic and echoic stores are part of which system?

• Working memory

• Procedural memory

• Sensory memory

• Episodic memory

Which feature distinguishes sensory memory from STM and LTM?

• Modality-specific encoding and extremely brief duration

• Semantic encoding and limited capacity

• Visual dominance and active rehearsal

• Unlimited duration and limited capacity

Miller’s “Magic Number” suggests that STM capacity is about seven items. Which finding most seriously challenges this claim?

• The serial position curve

• Cowan’s “running span” procedure

• Glanzer and Cunitz’s distraction task

• Milner’s case study of HM

Cowan argued that Miller’s findings had low ecological validity because:

• The sample was too small

• The tasks allowed artificial memory strategies

• The experiment lacked controls

• The procedure included emotional stimuli

In the MSM, rehearsal is assumed to:

• Increase STM capacity

• Encode information into LTM

• Prevent displacement in sensory memory

• Organize information semantically

Elaborative rehearsal leads to better recall primarily because:

• It keeps information active longer in STM

• It involves maintenance repetition

• It promotes deeper, meaningful encoding in LTM

• It reduces proactive interference

The Serial Position Effect provides evidence for:

• The unitary nature of memory

• Two separate stores, STM and LTM

• The role of chunking

• The influence of emotion on recall

In the Serial Position Curve, the flat middle section (asymptote) occurs because:

• Middle items are forgotten due to lack of rehearsal

• Middle items are emotionally salient

• Middle items are rehearsed the most

• Middle items are encoded semantically