P1.M Memory — Topic Overview
Memory is one of the core topics in AQA GCSE Psychology Paper 1. It examines how information is encoded, stored and retrieved, and why forgetting happens.
Key models
Multi-store model (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968): Information passes through three stores — sensory register, short-term memory (STM) and long-term memory (LTM). Each has different capacity, duration and encoding type. Rehearsal transfers information from STM to LTM.
Working memory model (Baddeley and Hitch, 1974): Replaces the unitary STM with a multi-component system: central executive (directs attention), phonological loop (verbal/acoustic), visuospatial sketchpad (visual/spatial), episodic buffer (links components and LTM).
Key studies
| Study | Key finding |
|---|---|
| Baddeley (1966) | STM acoustic encoding; LTM semantic encoding |
| Miller (1956) | STM capacity: 7 ± 2 chunks |
| Peterson & Peterson (1959) | STM duration: ~18-30 s without rehearsal |
| Moray (1959) | Attention: cocktail party effect — own name breaks through |
| Godden & Baddeley (1975) | Context-dependent memory — divers recalled more in same environment |
Types of forgetting
- Trace decay: memory fades from disuse (mainly STM)
- Interference: new or old memories overwrite each other (proactive or retroactive)
- Retrieval failure: cues missing at retrieval don't match encoding context
Exam approach
- Be able to describe AND evaluate each model and each study
- Apply knowledge to scenarios (e.g. "why did the student forget the list?")
- Use key terms precisely: capacity, duration, encoding, retrieval, rehearsal
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