QCAA Psychology - Baddeley & Hitch (1974)

Identify the correct set of words used to complete the sentence.

Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968) proposed a ________ model of memory, which identified three distinct memory stores: ________, ________ and ________.

• static, long-term, short-term, multi-store

• sensory, static, short-term, long-term

• multi-store, long-term, short-term, sensory

• multi-store, static, short-term, long-term

According to the Working Model of Memory, proposed by Baddeley & Hitch (1974), auditory information is sent to the __________, whereas visual information is sent to the __________.

• central executive, visuospatial sketchpad

• visuospatial sketchpad, episodic buffer

• episodic buffer, phonological loop

• phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad

Ashley had just arrived at work when he realised he had left his phone at home. He is able to picture in his mind exactly where he left it on the table.

According to Baddeley & Hitch's (1974) Working Model of Memory, recall which sub-system of working memory is allowing Ashley to access his long-term memory to visualise the location of his phone.

• Central executive

• Episodic buffer

• Phonological loop

• Visuospatial sketchpad

Answer explanation

Since the question asks which sub-system is active when accessing long-term memory, the correct answer is the episodic buffer.

Baddeley & Hitch (1974) proposed that working memory is a single store that holds information for a imitated duration of time.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

Unlike Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1968) understanding of short-term memory, Baddeley and Hitch (1974) proposed that working memory is comprised of several sub-systems.

Recall the primary function of the central executive.

• Cognitive processes, including directing focus.

• Processing of visual information.

• Processing of auditory information.

• Retrieves information from long-term memory.

Answer explanation

The central executive puts together the sounds and vision of working memory and controls our attention, enabling us to perform the mental manipulation of data. The three main functions are: inhibition (screening out irrelevant material), switching (changing attention from one item to another) and updating (modifying items brought in from the LTM before recommitting to memory through the episodic buffer).

Identify the component of working memory that stores visual information.

• Central executive

• Episodic buffer

• Phonological loop

• Visuospatial sketchpad

Debbie is learning Italian and wants to practice her language skills by visiting an Italian restaurant and ordering her meal in Italian. While she is waiting to be served, she rehearses her order in her head continuously in Italian.

Identify the component of working memory that relates to mental rehearsal.

• Central executive

• Phonological loop

• Short-term memory

• Visuospatial sketchpad

Answer explanation

The phonological loop is auditory working memory and is also known as the articulatory rehearsal loop. It includes the storage for what we hear and helps us to understand sentences of more than a few words by retaining the words from the beginning of a sentence until we have heard the words at the end.

Explain one criticism of Baddeley & Hitch's (1974) working model of memory.

Answer explanation

Model Answer:

One criticism of the working model of memory relates to the visuospatial sketchpad. According to Baddeley and Hitch, this sub-store of working memory holds visual information, however it does not account for the experiences of people who have visual impairments or were born blind from birth, who have not experienced vision in the same way as others.

Could also discuss the model being too simplistic, particularly regarding the central executive.

Describe the role of the episodic buffer in the Working Model of Memory, proposed by Baddeley & Hitch (1974).

Answer explanation

The role of the episodic buffer is to act as both a bridge and a filter (for auditory and visual information) between long-term memory and the central executive and storage components in working memory. It acts to retrieve information from long-term memory and bring it to the working memory.