Working Memory Model
Describe and Evaluate the Working Memory Model - 12 Marks
The working memory model is a model which specifically defines the short term memory. It is made up of three sections: the central executive, visuo-spacial sketchpad and phonological loop. The central executive is the 'boss' of the three and this section of the system is the part that makes it possible for humans to multitask. It does this by allocating attention to different parts of the system. These are its slave systems. The capacity of the central executive is unknown as little research has been done but it is thought to have limited capacity.
The first slave system of the central executive is the phonological loop, which also has two sub-component. It is the articulatory control system and is responsible for encoding acoustic data. The first sub-component is the phonological store which holds verbal information in speech form for a short period of time and the second, the articulatory loop, which acts as an inner voice for rehearsal. In 1975, Baddeley et al conducted an experiment to test the role of verbal rehearsal in the phonological loop. The results of this were that the short words were remembered better than the longer words. This is called the 'word length effect'.
The third section of the Working Memory Model is the visuo-spacial sketchpad. This is also made up of two sub-components and is responsible for visual and spacial encoding. These are the inner scribe, which acts as a mental sketchpad for rehearsal, and the visual cache which is connected. Together these sub-components act as an efficient rehearsal mechanism. Baddeley et al researched this section of the working memory model in 1973 to test if 2 tasks involving the visuo spacial sketchpad could be carried out simultaneously. They found out that participants had a high degree of difficulty in completing the task.
There are many strengths of the working memory model. One of these is that it offers a much more detailed
The working memory model is a model which specifically defines the short term memory. It is made up of three sections: the central executive, visuo-spacial sketchpad and phonological loop. The central executive is the 'boss' of the three and this section of the system is the part that makes it possible for humans to multitask. It does this by allocating attention to different parts of the system. These are its slave systems. The capacity of the central executive is unknown as little research has been done but it is thought to have limited capacity.
The first slave system of the central executive is the phonological loop, which also has two sub-component. It is the articulatory control system and is responsible for encoding acoustic data. The first sub-component is the phonological store which holds verbal information in speech form for a short period of time and the second, the articulatory loop, which acts as an inner voice for rehearsal. In 1975, Baddeley et al conducted an experiment to test the role of verbal rehearsal in the phonological loop. The results of this were that the short words were remembered better than the longer words. This is called the 'word length effect'.
The third section of the Working Memory Model is the visuo-spacial sketchpad. This is also made up of two sub-components and is responsible for visual and spacial encoding. These are the inner scribe, which acts as a mental sketchpad for rehearsal, and the visual cache which is connected. Together these sub-components act as an efficient rehearsal mechanism. Baddeley et al researched this section of the working memory model in 1973 to test if 2 tasks involving the visuo spacial sketchpad could be carried out simultaneously. They found out that participants had a high degree of difficulty in completing the task.
There are many strengths of the working memory model. One of these is that it offers a much more detailed