PassingPsych

Memory is the process of encoding, storing and retrieving information. The Multi-Store Model of Memory(MSM)  by Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968), describes the basic architecture of the memory system. The MSM suggests that there are 3 main components, Sensory Memory, Short-Term Memory(STM) and Long-Term Memory(LTM). Information is detected by the sense organs and is temporarily stored in the sensory register (duration less than half a second). If information is attended to it moves into the STM(duration around 30s). It can either decay, if no longer used or is maintained in STM if rehearsed. To move to LTM (unlimited duration), elaborative rehearsal must take place. Memories can be retrieved from the LTM back into STM. In this essay a brief account of the model and the supporting study of Glanzer and Cunitz (1968).

Glanzer and Cunitiz aimed to investigate the serial position effect; they hypothesised that two distinct storage mechanisms produced the serial position curve in free recall. To investigate Glanzer and Cunitz used a lab experiment. An independent group design consisting of 46 army enlisted men split into three groups was used. All participants heard a list of words and then were asked to repeat them, the delay time to repeat varied between groups with 0-sec delay, 10 and 30 an interference task is used to prevent rehearsal. Results showed that participants recalled more words at the beginning (Primacy) and end (recency) of the 0-second delay group. The interference task removed recency but not primacy showing primacy words were stored somewhere different to recency words, and therefore providing evidence for two separate stores.

Glanzer and Cunitz demonstrate the existence of the LTM and STM store. This can be seen through the primacy and recency effect and the interference task removing the recency effect.  This is important as the primacy effect supports the existence of the LTM and role of rehearsal, as to recall the first words rehearsal was used as participants would have had time to reppeat the first words. The recency effect supports the existence of STM as the last words would still be in the STM and therefore be recalled. This is why the recency effect is not recalled with the interference task. Therefore the study supports two of the key components of the MSM.