Download Evaluation of Multi-Store Model: Research Model

Evaluation of Multi-Store Model: RESEARCH EVIDENCE
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1) MURDOCK (1962) – The model can effectively explain the primacy and receny effect
found by Murdock, for example the earlier information is recalled because information
has had opportunity to be rehearsed and moved into LTM (primacy), whilst the later
information has not decayed and so it still present in STM.
2) Milner’s case study of patient HM: HM had brain surgery to help with epileptic fits, as a
result of the surgery he was left with Anterograde Amnesia. He had a normal STM
function as his immediate recall was normal, but he was not able to learn new material (he
couldn’t recall it at a later date). This supports the idea of functional separation (i.e. that
STM and LTM are separate stores, doing different jobs), because his STM and LTM care
differently effected by the surgery.
3) Miller – Magic number 7. Carried out research to see how many digits individuals were
able to recall in a list, found that ,most people immediately recall between 5 and 9, this
supports the idea of a limited capacity of around 7 items for STM
4) People with KORSAKOFF’S SYNDROME:forget new information very rapidly, but
seem to have an intact LTM because they are able to recall information from their past. It
is suggested that these individuals have a problem transferring information from STM to
LTM. This supports multi-store model of memory as it highlights functional separation of
STM and LTM.
5) Baddeley (66) shows that there is a difference in coding of information between STM and
LTM. He gave pps a list of either semantically similar words, acoustically similar words
or unrelated words. He then measured accuracy of their recall (DV). Participants recall
was tested either immediately (this assessing STM) or after 20 mins (thus assessing
LTM). He found that in immediate recall pps made most mistakes with acoustically
similar words, whilst after 20 mins pps performed most poorly with semantically similar
words. Suggesting that coding in STM is phonological and coding in LTM is semantic,
also supporting functional separation.
6) Problems with evidence supporting the model, lack of ecological validity (Baddeley,
Miller &Murdock).... and... sample size for Milner and Korsakoff’s syndrome...
7) The model states that rehearsal is needed for info for it to be passed into LTM. – But
what about smells/touc etc (cannot rehearse these). Furthermore, sometimes we develop
good memories for events even without rehearsal e.g. flashbulb memories.
8) The dilemma presented by Patient KF: motorbike accident – brain surgery left him with
STM storage of only 2 items, but was able to learn and recall new information (LTM =
normal). Multi-store-model would struggle to explain this because it would suggest that a
fully functioning STM is needed to pass information onto LTM.
9) Fails to explain the complexity of long term memory, e.g. There is evidence to suggest
that there are a variety of different types of LTM (episodic, procedural and semantic),
which is not explained by model.