Question 1

One way to store more information in short-term memory is called ____________, which involves organizing smaller units of information into larger, more meaningful units.
A) rehearsal
B) consolidation
C) chunking
D) dual coding

Accepted Answer

Chunking involves grouping together smaller units of information into larger, more meaningful units, such as grouping individual digits into a phone number or grouping letters into a word. This can help to increase the capacity of short-term memory and make the information more easily retrievable. Rehearsal involves repeating information over and over to keep it in short-term memory, consolidation involves the transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory, and dual coding involves encoding information using both verbal and visual cues.

Question 2

The system of memory that can hold approximately 7 "chunks" of information is called
A) long-term memory.
B) permastore memory.
C) sensory memory.
D) short-term memory.

Accepted Answer

The system of memory that can hold approximately 7 "chunks" of information is called short-term memory. Long-term memory refers to the storage of information over an extended period, permastore memory is not a recognized term in psychology, and sensory memory refers to very brief storage of sensory information before it is processed or lost.

Question 3

Gillian is assembling a bookcase. She studies one of the diagrams in the instructions and then looks for the parts she needs and begins to put them together. According to the working memory model discussed in your textbook, which part of Gillian's memory remembers what the parts in the diagram looked like while she works?
A) the phonological loop
B) the central executive
C) the episodic buffer
D) the visuospatial sketchpad

Accepted Answer

The visuospatial sketchpad is responsible for storing visual and spatial information, which would be used to remember what the parts in the diagram looked like while assembling the bookcase. The phonological loop is responsible for holding verbal information, the central executive controls attention and the episodic buffer integrates information from different sources into a single memory.

Question 4

Recent research suggests that working memory includes a(n) _______________, which acts as a storage component of working memory that combines the images and sounds from the other two components into coherent, story-like episodes.
A) phonological loop
B) central executive
C) episodic buffer
D) visuospatial sketchpad

Accepted Answer

The episodic buffer is the component of working memory that acts as a storage component and combines the information from the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad into coherent, story-like episodes. The phonological loop is responsible for processing auditory information and the visuospatial sketchpad is responsible for processing visual information. The central executive is the control center of working memory, responsible for coordinating and controlling the other two components. Therefore, the correct answer is C) episodic buffer.

Question 5

The Magical Number of short-term memory is
A) fifteen plus or minus two.
B) nine plus or minus two.
C) seven plus or minus three.
D) seven plus or minus two.

Accepted Answer

The research conducted by George Miller in 1956 suggests that the capacity of short-term memory is limited to holding seven (plus or minus two) pieces of information. Therefore, the best choice is D, which states seven plus or minus two.

Question 6

The _______________is a storage component of working memory that relies on rehearsal and stores information as sounds, or an auditory code.
A) phonological loop
B) central executive
C) episodic buffer
D) visuospatial sketchpad

Accepted Answer

The phonological loop is the storage component of working memory that relies on rehearsal and stores information as sounds or an auditory code. The central executive is responsible for coordinating different components of working memory, while the episodic buffer integrates information from the phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and long-term memory. The visuospatial sketchpad is responsible for storing and manipulating visual and spatial information.

Question 7

Most people cannot store the following list of letters in short-term memory. G O T O Y O U R B E D R O O M
However, if the letters are grouped meaningfully into words, they fit short-term's memory span: Go to your bedroom. This illustrates
A) chunking.
B) backward masking.
C) verbal coding.
D) selective attention.

Accepted Answer

Chunking is the process of grouping information into smaller, meaningful units in order to improve memory recall. In this example, grouping the letters into words (Go to your bedroom) creates smaller, more easily remembered chunks. Backward masking involves presenting a stimulus followed by a mask to disrupt processing, verbal coding refers to the process of mentally translating information into verbal form, and selective attention involves focusing on one particular stimulus while filtering out irrelevant information. None of these processes fully explain the phenomenon observed in the example.

Question 8

Which part of working memory does not actually store information, but instead guides attention and ensures that the other components are working on the appropriate task?
A) the phonological loop
B) the central executive
C) the episodic buffer
D) the visuospatial sketchpad

Accepted Answer

The central executive does not store information but directs attention to the relevant information and coordinates with the other components of working memory. The phonological loop stores auditory information, the visuospatial sketchpad stores visual and spatial information, and the episodic buffer serves as a temporary storage for information from various sources.

Question 9

Which fact does NOT support the idea that the amount of information that can be stored in short-term memory (STM) is determined by the number of chunks?
A) Organizing digits into larger numbers allows people to remember more digits at one time.
B) There is a limit to the number of units of information that can be stored in STM at one time.
C) Chunking can increase the amount of information people can place in STM.
D) Individuals can remember more words from a list of single-syllable words than they can from a list of four- or five-syllable words.

Accepted Answer

This fact supports the idea that the amount of information that can be stored in STM is not solely determined by the number of chunks, as the number of syllables in a word can also impact STM capacity. Therefore, individuals can remember more single-syllable words than multiple-syllable words, despite the number of chunks being the same. The other three answer choices all support the idea that chunking can impact STM capacity, which suggests that the amount of information that can be stored in STM is determined by the number of chunks.

Question 10

Which memory system can be divided into four interrelated systems: central executive, visual sketchpad, episodic buffer, and the phonological loop?
A) sensory memory
B) working memory
C) long-term memory
D) procedural memory

Accepted Answer

The four interrelated systems referred to are components of working memory. The central executive is responsible for coordinating attention and processing information, the visual sketchpad stores visual and spatial information, the episodic buffer integrates information from different modalities, and the phonological loop stores and rehearses auditory and verbal information.

Question 11

If one wants to increase the capacity of short-term memory, more items can be held through the process of
A) chunking.
B) decoding.
C) rote rehearsal.
D) data compression.

Accepted Answer

Chunking is the process of grouping separate pieces of information and organizing them into larger, more meaningful units or chunks. This allows for more information to be held in short-term memory at once, as the chunks are treated as single units rather than individual items. Therefore, chunking allows for an increase in the capacity of short-term memory.

Question 12

After you finish reading this sentence, the information will remain in your ________ as you consider each of the answers below.
A) long-term memory
B) photographic memory
C) sensory memory
D) working memory

Accepted Answer

Working memory is the part of our memory responsible for holding onto information temporarily while we process it. This sentence is short enough to be held in our working memory, rather than needing to be transferred to long-term memory. Photographic memory is not a scientifically proven phenomenon, and sensory memory refers to sensory information that only lasts a few seconds.

Question 13

When asked to recall single-digit numbers presented in various digit span sizes, the typical adult would probably start to encounter difficulty once they got past ________ digits.
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 7

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that the average digit span for adults is around 7 numbers, give or take 2. So, beyond 7 digits, recall performance tends to decrease.

Question 14

Chunking is a means of
A) immediately forgetting irrelevant details.
B) combining information into meaningful units.
C) arranging details into a hierarchy from most to least important.
D) storing long-term memories.

Accepted Answer

Chunking involves grouping individual pieces of information into larger, more meaningful units, making it easier to remember and recall. The other answer choices do not accurately describe the process of chunking.

Question 15

Maria finds that it is easier to remember her student ID number if she thinks of it in segments, such as the first three digits, then the next two, and then the final four. Each of these short segments of the number are called
A) codes.
B) cues.
C) chunks.
D) stores.

Accepted Answer

These short segments are called "chunks" because they break down the larger number into smaller, more manageable pieces that are easier to remember. Chunks are a common memory technique used to improve recall of complex information.

Question 16

When an individual repeats a piece of information to themselves so they don't forget it, which part of working memory are they making use of?
A) the phonological loop
B) the central executive
C) the episodic buffer
D) the visuospatial sketchpad

Accepted Answer

The phonological loop is responsible for the temporary storage and rehearsal of verbal information, such as repeating a phone number or a name to remember it.

Question 17

All night, Pedro has been staring at Samantha from across the dance floor. At the end of the night, he finally gets the courage to ask her for her telephone number. His mental repetition of the number on the drive home is one example of
A) chunking.
B) the power of suggestion.
C) rehearsal.
D) transference of memory.

Accepted Answer

Pedro's mental repetition of the number on the drive home is an example of rehearsal, which is a cognitive process of repeating information over and over again in order to transfer it from short-term memory to long-term memory. In this case, Pedro is trying to memorize Samantha's telephone number so he can remember it later. Chunking (A) is a memory technique that involves grouping information into smaller, more manageable units, and it's not applicable in this scenario. The power of suggestion (B) refers to the idea that people can be influenced to believe or do things based on subtle cues or suggestions from others, and it's not relevant in this scenario. Transference of memory (D) is not a recognized memory process, and it's not applicable in this scenario.

Question 18

Telo convinces a woman he finds attractive to give him her telephone number. Unfortunately, the number is ten digits long with the area code, and Telo cannot find a place to write it down. As he looks for a pen and paper, what can Telo do to help him remember the number?
A) Nothing will help because 10 digits is beyond short-term memory capability.
B) Thinking of something else will help Telo.
C) "Chunking" the numbers into fewer units will help Telo.
D) Using his sensory memory will help Telo

Accepted Answer

"Chunking" involves grouping information into smaller, more manageable units. Telo could break the phone number down into sections such as the area code, the first three digits, and the last four digits, and focus on memorizing each chunk separately. This can help improve short-term memory capacity and retention.

Question 19

Sarah is doing an arithmetic problem, and this component of her memory contains the numbers and the instructions for doing the necessary operations for each step as she goes through the problem.
A) serial-position memory
B) tool-box memory
C) working memory
D) episodic memory

Accepted Answer

Working memory is a type of short-term memory that is responsible for temporarily holding information and manipulating it to complete a specific task or goal. In Sarah's case, she is using her working memory to hold the numbers and instructions as she works through the arithmetic problem.

Question 20

Loni is asked to memorize the letters I K T E A L N in no particular order. She memorizes them by reorganizing them into the words INK and LATE. This tactic is called
A) cueing.
B) shadowing.
C) rote rehearsal.
D) chunking.

Accepted Answer

Chunking is a memory technique in which information is divided into small chunks or units that are easier to remember. In this case, the letters were chunked into the words "INK" and "LATE", making it easier for Loni to remember them.

Quiz 7: Memory

One way to store more information in short-term memory is called ____________, which involves organizing smaller units of information into larger, more meaningful units.

The system of memory that can hold approximately 7 "chunks" of information is called

Recent research suggests that working memory includes a(n) _______________, which acts as a storage component of working memory that combines the images and sounds from the other two components into coherent, story-like episodes.

The Magical Number of short-term memory is

The _______________is a storage component of working memory that relies on rehearsal and stores information as sounds, or an auditory code.

Most people cannot store the following list of letters in short-term memory. G O T O Y O U R B E D R O O M However, if the letters are grouped meaningfully into words, they fit short-term's memory span: Go to your bedroom. This illustrates

Which part of working memory does not actually store information, but instead guides attention and ensures that the other components are working on the appropriate task?

Which fact does NOT support the idea that the amount of information that can be stored in short-term memory (STM) is determined by the number of chunks?

Which memory system can be divided into four interrelated systems: central executive, visual sketchpad, episodic buffer, and the phonological loop?

If one wants to increase the capacity of short-term memory, more items can be held through the process of

After you finish reading this sentence, the information will remain in your ________ as you consider each of the answers below.

When asked to recall single-digit numbers presented in various digit span sizes, the typical adult would probably start to encounter difficulty once they got past ________ digits.

Chunking is a means of

Maria finds that it is easier to remember her student ID number if she thinks of it in segments, such as the first three digits, then the next two, and then the final four. Each of these short segments of the number are called

When an individual repeats a piece of information to themselves so they don't forget it, which part of working memory are they making use of?

All night, Pedro has been staring at Samantha from across the dance floor. At the end of the night, he finally gets the courage to ask her for her telephone number. His mental repetition of the number on the drive home is one example of

Telo convinces a woman he finds attractive to give him her telephone number. Unfortunately, the number is ten digits long with the area code, and Telo cannot find a place to write it down. As he looks for a pen and paper, what can Telo do to help him remember the number?

Sarah is doing an arithmetic problem, and this component of her memory contains the numbers and the instructions for doing the necessary operations for each step as she goes through the problem.

Loni is asked to memorize the letters I K T E A L N in no particular order. She memorizes them by reorganizing them into the words INK and LATE. This tactic is called