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Explain coding, capacity and duration in short-term memory. - Scottish Highers Psychology - Question b - 2019
Question b
Explain coding, capacity and duration in short-term memory.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain coding, capacity and duration in short-term memory. - Scottish Highers Psychology - Question b - 2019
Step 1
Explain coding in short-term memory
Answer
In short-term memory (STM), coding refers to the way information is transformed into a format that can be stored. Research has shown that STM primarily utilizes acoustic coding, meaning that information is often processed in terms of sound rather than meaning.
Step 2
Explain capacity in short-term memory
Answer
The capacity of short-term memory is generally considered to be between 5 to 9 items. This phenomenon can be enhanced through a process known as chunking, where larger pieces of information are grouped into smaller, manageable units to aid retention.
Step 3
Explain duration in short-term memory
Answer
Information in short-term memory is typically held for approximately 30 seconds without rehearsal. However, if rehearsal is prevented, the duration can drop to around 18 seconds, indicating that STM has a limited duration for maintaining information.