Memory is the mental function, in our brains, of retaining data, the storage system that holds the data and the retrieval of data. We cannot survive without memory because we would not remember how to do basic things to keep us alive.
Background research
Memory is the mental function, in our brains, of retaining data, the storage system that holds the data and the retrieval of data. We cannot survive without memory because we would not remember how to do basic things to keep us alive.
In our memory there are three processes:
. Input/encoding- the input of data into the memory system
2. Storage- the storage of data for further use
3. Retrieval- the recovery of data for later use
All three processes must be completed for us to remember data.
Psychologists have researched the structure of our memory and how it works. Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) developed a model of how the memory works using case studies and observations to help them develop this structure. They believed our memories store information in two parts; short-term memory (STM) and long term memory (LTM).
In our short-term memory we can store very recent data that is then either displaced (lost) or rehearsed and stored in our long term memory. In formation from our senses pass to our sensory memory which transfers it to our STM. This is the model which Atkinson and Shiffrin developed:
A theory using a similar structure is the primacy and recency effect. The primacy and recency effect was developed by Murdoch in 1962.
This theory investigates the order in which we remember things.
When immediately rehearsing a list of words just given to us, most people remember the last words on the list first and the first words on the list last, forgetting the middle words. This is because we rehearse the first few words we hear (primacy) and the last few words are stored in our STM so are remembered instantly (recency). The middle words are displaced because of the limited capacity of STM but cannot be rehearsed as well as the first words so are lost.
Glanzer and Cunnitz (1966) found that if a task was given to the participant in between being given the list of words and reciting them that only the primacy effect was shown. This is because the last few words that were in the STM have been replaced with the new task and cannot be recited directly from the STM and so have been displaced.
This is called displacement.
Rationale
For my investigation I am going to see if a displacement task will effect the recall of the last five words in a list. I decided to investigate this because I think it is the most interesting part of the cognitive approach and I am interested in seeing the effect for myself with my own research. It is an ethical and straightforward study to carry out and gathers quantitative results, ideal for my coursework.
I am developing Glanzer and Cunnitz's research to see if it is still useful in today's society.
Aim
To see if a displacement activity will effect the recall of the last five words.
Hypothesis
Participants who are given a displacement task before recalling a list of words will remember less of the last five words than participants who did not get a displacement activity.
Memory is the mental function, in our brains, of retaining data, the storage system that holds the data and the retrieval of data. We cannot survive without memory because we would not remember how to do basic things to keep us alive.
In our memory there are three processes:
. Input/encoding- the input of data into the memory system
2. Storage- the storage of data for further use
3. Retrieval- the recovery of data for later use
All three processes must be completed for us to remember data.
Psychologists have researched the structure of our memory and how it works. Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) developed a model of how the memory works using case studies and observations to help them develop this structure. They believed our memories store information in two parts; short-term memory (STM) and long term memory (LTM).
In our short-term memory we can store very recent data that is then either displaced (lost) or rehearsed and stored in our long term memory. In formation from our senses pass to our sensory memory which transfers it to our STM. This is the model which Atkinson and Shiffrin developed:
A theory using a similar structure is the primacy and recency effect. The primacy and recency effect was developed by Murdoch in 1962.
This theory investigates the order in which we remember things.
When immediately rehearsing a list of words just given to us, most people remember the last words on the list first and the first words on the list last, forgetting the middle words. This is because we rehearse the first few words we hear (primacy) and the last few words are stored in our STM so are remembered instantly (recency). The middle words are displaced because of the limited capacity of STM but cannot be rehearsed as well as the first words so are lost.
Glanzer and Cunnitz (1966) found that if a task was given to the participant in between being given the list of words and reciting them that only the primacy effect was shown. This is because the last few words that were in the STM have been replaced with the new task and cannot be recited directly from the STM and so have been displaced.
This is called displacement.
Rationale
For my investigation I am going to see if a displacement task will effect the recall of the last five words in a list. I decided to investigate this because I think it is the most interesting part of the cognitive approach and I am interested in seeing the effect for myself with my own research. It is an ethical and straightforward study to carry out and gathers quantitative results, ideal for my coursework.
I am developing Glanzer and Cunnitz's research to see if it is still useful in today's society.
Aim
To see if a displacement activity will effect the recall of the last five words.
Hypothesis
Participants who are given a displacement task before recalling a list of words will remember less of the last five words than participants who did not get a displacement activity.
