MULTI-STOREY MODEL OF MEMORY

1 05/08/09 Tracy Keogh

 MULTI-STOREY MODEL OF MEMORY

Richard Shiffrin and Richard Atkinson proposed the idea of

the Multi-Storey Model

 THE MODEL

– The model suggest the idea that memory can be known as a

process of information that goes through several stores all of which
have different characteristics.

2 05/08/09 Tracy Keogh

 STORES OF MEMORY
 Sensory memory
– This is where information is first taken in and held for a short time,
a few seconds. It is here where the information is passed on to the
short term memory. Sensory memory is visual, smell, touch and
sound.
 Short term memory
– Information enters the short term memory once it has been
encoded and if rehearsed will be kept
 Long term memory
– This is where information has been passed from short term
memory. Here it will say and can be used in the future. (encoding
in long term memory can be visual, acoustic or semantic).

3 05/08/09 Tracy Keogh

 WHAT THE MODEL SHOWS

The model shows us a simple way to demonstrate

memory processes.

– Doesn’t show us the reasons why we remember things we did not

rehearse but sometimes can’t remember things we have
rehearsed.
 Also doesn’t explain factors like:-
– How we learn to swim because we do not learn information like this
from pieces of information.

Model is quite useful but doesn’t cover all angles of he

thought process.
4 05/08/09 Tracy Keogh
 ANALYSIS OF ENCODING, STORAGE
AND RETRIEVAL

Memory can be split into three stages.

 Encoded
– This is the transference of information into code, creating a trace.
 Storage
– This the stage where information is held ready for he future. In short term memory
storage is limited, you can only store about 5-7 items at a time. Remembering things
in chunks can help storage and make memory more effective short term but the
Information doesn’t remain long unless it is repeated or rehearsed. The long term
memory however can last indefinitely and It has a huge capacity.
 Retrieval
– This is where information is retrieved from storage. If you are unable to retrieve the
information it is usually because something has gone wrong in one of the three
stages. For example faulty retrieval.

– In long term memory information is stored by association.

5 05/08/09 Tracy Keogh

 NECESSITY OF ICONIC AND ECHOIC
MEMORY

 Assessment of the Necessity of Iconic and Echoic

Memory in Everyday Life!

 Iconic Memory
– Iconic memory stores visual images for about half a second (an
icon is an image). If in ordinary life we didn’t have iconic memory
when we watched a film we would only see it as a series of still
images.

 Echoic Memory
– Echoic memory stores sound for up to two seconds. If we didn’t
have echoic memory we wouldn’t be able to understand speech
and all we would be able to hear would be a number of unrelated
6 sounds. 05/08/09 Tracy Keogh
 STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE RETRIEVAL

 There are many ways to improve memory.

 Start with the seven memory rule.
– Remember seven things and as you improve use this rule to create sub-
categories and then when you need to retrieve the information it’s there.
 You can use imagery techniques.
– Exaggerate things to huge sizes and use more vibrant and distinctive
images.
 Reading out loud is effective
 Teaching other people the information.

7 05/08/09 Tracy Keogh