Evaluation of the Multi-Store Model

355 Words2 Pages
Evaluation of Atkinson & Shiffrin’s Multi-store Model The Multi-store model proposes the idea of three memory stores that information passes through. The model suggests that by paying attention information can pass from the sensory store to the short term store, and then by rehearsal can pass into the long term store. Retrieval is a process where information stored in long term memory can be processed and remembered and travels back into the short term store. Although the model is very simple and fairly out dated it is the base for most psychological understanding nowadays. It provides a common vocabulary for the discussion over memory and is used by many psychologists as a starting point for their ideas and theories. It can be used as a basis for other more complex up to date models used today. A down side to the model is that all the information in long term memory is lumped into one. It does not take into account how long ago it was remembered or rehearsed. Information that was processed 10 minutes ago is seen as the same as memories from 10 years ago. This means there is no distinction between different types of memories made. Tulving used the model as a starting point for investigating the nature of memory. He discovered that the long term store could be divided into semantic, episodic and procedural memory. The model has been supported by lots of research evidence. Many psychologists have distinguished a difference between short term memory and long term memory through research and investigations. Investigations have been carried out on the primacy versus recency effect, differences in duration that information can be held (Peterson and Peterson/ Bahrick), ways in which information is encoded into the different stores (Baddeley), differences in how much the different stores can hold (Miller/Jacobs) and also the neuropsychological evidence from case
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