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Erica
27/07/2025
Psychology
Coding, capacity and duration of memory
Evaluating Memory Studies in Psychology
When assessing famous psychology memory experiments, it's important to consider their strengths and limitations:
Strengths:
- Bahrick's study used real-life memories, enhancing external validity
- Multiple studies have confirmed the general findings of the digit span task
Limitations:
- Peterson & Peterson's study used artificial stimuli, potentially reducing ecological validity
- Jacobs' digit span research is quite old and may not have controlled for all confounding variables
- Participants in Bahrick's study may have reviewed yearbooks over the years, affecting results
Highlight: While these studies have provided valuable insights into memory processes, their limitations underscore the need for ongoing research in memory psychology.
These classic experiments form the foundation of our understanding of memory, but current research continues to refine and expand upon these findings. For students preparing for AQA A level Psychology memory exam questions and answers, it's crucial to understand both the seminal studies and more recent developments in the field.
Example: Modern memory research often incorporates neuroimaging techniques to observe brain activity during memory tasks, providing new insights into the neural basis of encoding, storage, and retrieval processes.
By critically evaluating these studies, students can develop a deeper understanding of research methods in psychology and the complexities of human memory systems. This knowledge is essential for success in Psychology Memory A Level coursework and exams.
Research on Coding in Memory Psychology
Baddeley's 1966 coding study examined how information is encoded in short-term and long-term memory. Participants were given different types of words to recall:
- Acoustically similar (sound alike)
- Acoustically dissimilar (sound different)
- Semantically similar (similar meanings)
- Semantically dissimilar (different meanings)
The results showed that for immediate recall (STM), participants performed worse with acoustically similar words. For delayed recall after 20 minutes (LTM), they performed worse with semantically similar words. This suggests that short-term memory coding is primarily acoustic, while long-term memory coding is primarily semantic.
Highlight: The study provides evidence that STM and LTM use different coding processes.
Vocabulary: Coding refers to the process of converting information from one memory store to another.
However, this study has limitations:
Example: The use of artificial word lists may not generalize well to real-world memory tasks.
Capacity and Duration of Short-Term and Long-Term Memory
Research on STM capacity includes:
- Jacobs (1987) digit span test: Found mean spans of 9.3 for digits and 7.3 for letters
- Miller's (1956) "magical number seven": Proposed STM capacity of 7 +/- 2 items
- Cowan's (2001) revised estimate: Suggests true STM capacity may be closer to 4 items
Definition: Chunking is the process of grouping individual pieces of information into larger, meaningful units to increase memory capacity.
Studies on memory duration include:
- Peterson & Peterson (1959): Demonstrated rapid forgetting in STM without rehearsal
- Bahrick (1975): Showed impressive long-term retention of high school memories decades later
Quote: "Photo recognition: 15 years after graduation - 90% accurate, 48 years -70%"
These studies highlight the stark differences between short-term memory duration (seconds without rehearsal) and long-term memory duration (potentially lifelong).
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Thomas R
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Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
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The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
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In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
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very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
What is Memory Psychology? Coding, Capacity, and Duration Explained!
Coding, Capacity, and Duration of Memory in Psychology - This summary explores key research on how information is encoded, stored, and retrieved in short-term and long-term memory, including studies by Baddeley, Miller, and Peterson & Peterson.
- Examines coding processes in... Show more
Evaluating Memory Studies in Psychology
When assessing famous psychology memory experiments, it's important to consider their strengths and limitations:
Strengths:
- Bahrick's study used real-life memories, enhancing external validity
- Multiple studies have confirmed the general findings of the digit span task
Limitations:
- Peterson & Peterson's study used artificial stimuli, potentially reducing ecological validity
- Jacobs' digit span research is quite old and may not have controlled for all confounding variables
- Participants in Bahrick's study may have reviewed yearbooks over the years, affecting results
Highlight: While these studies have provided valuable insights into memory processes, their limitations underscore the need for ongoing research in memory psychology.
These classic experiments form the foundation of our understanding of memory, but current research continues to refine and expand upon these findings. For students preparing for AQA A level Psychology memory exam questions and answers, it's crucial to understand both the seminal studies and more recent developments in the field.
Example: Modern memory research often incorporates neuroimaging techniques to observe brain activity during memory tasks, providing new insights into the neural basis of encoding, storage, and retrieval processes.
By critically evaluating these studies, students can develop a deeper understanding of research methods in psychology and the complexities of human memory systems. This knowledge is essential for success in Psychology Memory A Level coursework and exams.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Research on Coding in Memory Psychology
Baddeley's 1966 coding study examined how information is encoded in short-term and long-term memory. Participants were given different types of words to recall:
- Acoustically similar (sound alike)
- Acoustically dissimilar (sound different)
- Semantically similar (similar meanings)
- Semantically dissimilar (different meanings)
The results showed that for immediate recall (STM), participants performed worse with acoustically similar words. For delayed recall after 20 minutes (LTM), they performed worse with semantically similar words. This suggests that short-term memory coding is primarily acoustic, while long-term memory coding is primarily semantic.
Highlight: The study provides evidence that STM and LTM use different coding processes.
Vocabulary: Coding refers to the process of converting information from one memory store to another.
However, this study has limitations:
Example: The use of artificial word lists may not generalize well to real-world memory tasks.
Capacity and Duration of Short-Term and Long-Term Memory
Research on STM capacity includes:
- Jacobs (1987) digit span test: Found mean spans of 9.3 for digits and 7.3 for letters
- Miller's (1956) "magical number seven": Proposed STM capacity of 7 +/- 2 items
- Cowan's (2001) revised estimate: Suggests true STM capacity may be closer to 4 items
Definition: Chunking is the process of grouping individual pieces of information into larger, meaningful units to increase memory capacity.
Studies on memory duration include:
- Peterson & Peterson (1959): Demonstrated rapid forgetting in STM without rehearsal
- Bahrick (1975): Showed impressive long-term retention of high school memories decades later
Quote: "Photo recognition: 15 years after graduation - 90% accurate, 48 years -70%"
These studies highlight the stark differences between short-term memory duration (seconds without rehearsal) and long-term memory duration (potentially lifelong).
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user