Psychological Research Report on Memory

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Recommended: Write a short note on short term memory and long term memory

ABSTRACT

How is memory encoded and what methods can lead to greater recall? There have been many different models suggested for human memory and many different attempts at defining a specific method of encoding that will lead to greater recall. In this experiment subjects are asked to do a semantic task on a word related to them and an orthographic task in which they analyze the letter in the word. The results of the experiment indicate that the words which where encoded semantically and are related to the self have greater recall.

INTRODUCTION

In the last half century several theories have emerged with regard to the best model for human memory. In each of these models there was a specific way to help people recall words and images. The first model of memory is the short term and long term memory. In this model information is temporarily stored in the short term memory. Over here it is easily and quickly recalled and it can stay in short term memory and be recalled if the person rehearses it. When information leaves short term memory it goes into long term memory. While long term memory has a much larger storage capacity it is harder to recall items from long term memory. It has been proposed that items from long term memory are recalled by having large part of it placed in short term memory where it is examined to see if it has the necessary piece of information. If it doesn’t then either the person gives up on recalling it or takes another large set of information from long-term memory to examine. (Atkinson & Sciffrin 1971).

However this multi-store view of memory has not provided a strong enough explanation for scientists. Another theoretical view of memory is the idea that memory is based on depth of proce...

... middle of paper ...

...nitially rehearsed by recognition could have greater recall. An example would if this experiment asked subjects to again find a letter in a word if the word appeared before.

It has also been shown in this experiment that words that are related to oneself can lead to greater recall. However this experiment has not tested whether words related to oneself have a greater recall then other words that are encoded semantically since the other grouping of words were not semantically encoded.

REFERENCES

Atkinson, R.C. & Schifrin, R.M. (1971) The control of short-term memory. Scientific American, 225, 85-90.

Zachmeister, E.B. & Nyberg, S.E. (1982) Levels of Processing. Human Memory, Ch.12, 250-273

Klein, Stanley B. & Kihlstrom, Jhon F. (1986) Elaboration Organization and the Self-Reference effect in Memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology 115, 26-38

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