Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · Psychology

    Course version: 1PS0 · Version from Sept 2017

    Understand the structure and process of memory through the Multi-store…

    Full specification wording

    Memory: 2.1.5 Understand the structure and process of memory through the Multi-store Model of Memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968), including strengths and weaknesses of the theory: a. sensory register b. the capacity of short-term memory c. the duration of short-term memory d. the capacity of long-term memory e. the duration of long-term memory f. role of attention in memory g. role of rehearsal in memory

    Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1968) Multi-store Model describes memory as a linear process through three stores.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1PS0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 5 of 5
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1968) Multi-store Model describes memory as a linear process through three stores. Information enters the sensory register, which has a large capacity but a brief duration (under a second). If attention is paid, data transfers to short-term memory (STM). STM has a limited capacity of 7+/-2 items and a duration of up to 30 seconds. Maintenance rehearsal keeps information in STM, while prolonged rehearsal transfers it to long-term memory (LTM). LTM has an unlimited capacity and a duration of up to a lifetime. A strength is supporting evidence from case studies like HM, showing separate STM and LTM stores. A weakness is that it oversimplifies memory, ignoring different types of LTM and STM.

    What earns the marks

    • Identify the sensory register as the initial store, requiring attention to transfer information to short-term memory.
    • State that short-term memory has a limited capacity of 7+/-2 items and a duration of up to 30 seconds.
    • Explain that rehearsal is the necessary mechanism to transfer information from short-term memory to long-term memory.
    • State that long-term memory has a potentially unlimited capacity and a duration that can last a lifetime.
    • Evaluate the model by providing a valid strength, such as clinical evidence supporting separate stores, or a weakness, such as its oversimplified linear structure.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Confusing the capacity and duration of STM and LTM.

      Put it right: STM has limited capacity (7+/-2 items) and duration (up to 30 seconds), whereas LTM is potentially unlimited in both.

    • Forgetting the specific role of attention.

      Put it right: Attention is the exact mechanism required to move information from the sensory register into the short-term memory store.

    • Assuming rehearsal is only for keeping information in STM.

      Put it right: Rehearsal is also the mechanism that transfers information from STM into LTM.

    Exam tips

    • Use the specific terms 'capacity' and 'duration' correctly when describing the distinct features of each memory store.
    • When evaluating the model, use specific evidence, such as the case of HM, to support the existence of separate memory stores.
    • Draw a quick flowchart of the model on your rough paper to help visualise the processes of attention and rehearsal during the exam.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Memory: 2.1.5 Understand the structure and process of memory through the Multi-store Model of Memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968), including strengths and weaknesses of the theory: a. sensory register b. the capacity of short-term memory c. the duration of short-term memory d. the capacity of long-term memory e. the duration of long-term memory f. role of attention in memory g. role of rehearsal in memory lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    According to the Multi-store Model of Memory, what is the typical capacity of short-term memory?

    Listen

    Atkinson and Shiffrin's (1968) Multi-store Model describes memory as a linear process through three stores. Information enters the sensory register, which has a large capacity but a brief duration (under a second). If attention is paid, data transfers to short-term memory (STM). STM has a limited capacity of 7+/-2 items and a duration of up to 30 seconds. Maintenance rehearsal keeps information in STM, while prolonged rehearsal transfers it to long-term memory (LTM). LTM has an unlimited capacity and a duration of up to a lifetime. A strength is supporting evidence from case studies like HM, showing separate STM and LTM stores. A weakness is that it oversimplifies memory, ignoring different types of LTM and STM. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify the sensory register as the initial store, requiring attention to transfer information to short-term memory. State that short-term memory has a limited capacity of 7+/-2 items and a duration of up to 30 seconds. Explain that rehearsal is the necessary mechanism to transfer information from short-term memory to long-term memory. State that long-term memory has a potentially unlimited capacity and a duration that can last a lifetime. A common slip: Confusing the capacity and duration of STM and LTM. Instead, STM has limited capacity (7+/-2 items) and duration (up to 30 seconds), whereas LTM is potentially unlimited in both. Exam tip: Use the specific terms 'capacity' and 'duration' correctly when describing the distinct features of each memory store.

    See it

    A left-to-right flowchart with three boxes. The first box is labelled Sensory register and an arrow labelled Attention leads from it to the second box, Short-term memory. From Short-term memory, an arrow labelled Prolonged rehearsal leads to the third box, Long-term memory. A further arrow labelled Maintenance rehearsal loops from Short-term memory back to itself.
    It shows the linear flow of information from the sensory register through short-term memory to long-term memory, with attention and rehearsal as the transfer mechanisms.

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    Sensory register

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Short-term memory

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    Long-term memory

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    Rehearsal

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    Sensory register
    The initial store that information enters, which has a large capacity but a brief duration of under a second.
    Short-term memory
    The store that data transfers to if attention is paid, with a limited capacity of 7+/-2 items and a duration of up to 30 seconds.
    Long-term memory
    The store that prolonged rehearsal transfers information to, with an unlimited capacity and a duration of up to a lifetime.
    Rehearsal
    The mechanism that keeps information in short-term memory and transfers it to long-term memory.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 2 boxes numbered instead of named. A left-to-right flowchart with three boxes. The first box is labelled Sensory register and an arrow labelled Attention leads from it to the second box, Short-term memory. From Short-term memory, an arrow labelled Prolonged rehearsal leads to the third box, Long-term memory. A further arrow labelled Maintenance rehearsal loops from Short-term memory back to itself.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    0 of 2 labelled

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    Test your understanding of Memory: 2.1.5 Understand the structure and process of memory through the Multi-store Model of Memory (Atkinson and Shiffrin, 1968), including strengths and weaknesses of the theory: a. sensory register b. the capacity of short-term memory c. the duration of short-term memory d. the capacity of long-term memory e. the duration of long-term memory f. role of attention in memory g. role of rehearsal in memory

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