Question 1

One of the most effective strategies for encoding information into long-term memory is elaborative rehearsal.

Accepted Answer

Elaborative rehearsal involves actively processing and connecting new information with existing knowledge in a meaningful way, which has been found to be more effective for long-term memory retention than simply repeating information over and over (known as maintenance rehearsal).

Question 2

George Miller's classic experiment suggested that short-term memory has a capacity of about seven bits of information, plus or minus two.

Accepted Answer

George Miller's classic experiment, also known as "The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two," suggested that the short-term memory has a capacity of about seven bits of information, plus or minus two.

Question 3

Semantic information is information kept in short-term memory just long enough to be processed before being moved into long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Semantic information refers to meaning-based knowledge and understanding, not just information stored in short-term memory. It is processed and stored in long-term memory.

Question 4

If you're like most people, you probably don't remember when or where you acquired most of your semantic memories.

Accepted Answer

Semantic memories are the type of memories that relate to general knowledge, facts, concepts, and ideas. Unlike episodic memories, which are tied to specific events or experiences, semantic memories are usually acquired through repetition and exposure, and they tend to be less vivid or personal. Therefore, many of our semantic memories may have been formed gradually over time without a clear recollection of how or when they were acquired.

Question 5

Recent studies suggest that the true "magical number" for the capacity of short-term memory is more likely to be four, plus or minus one, than seven, plus or minus two.

Accepted Answer

Recent studies suggest that the capacity of short-term memory is more likely to be four, plus or minus one, instead of the previously believed number of seven, plus or minus two.

Question 6

If information in short-term memory is not actively rehearsed, the information is transferred to long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

If information in short-term memory is not actively rehearsed, it is typically forgotten and not transferred to long-term memory.

Question 7

Maintenance rehearsal is a very effective strategy for encoding information into long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Maintenance rehearsal involves simply repeating information over and over without any elaboration or deeper processing. While it may help keep information in short-term memory, it is not an effective strategy for storing information in long-term memory. Elaborative rehearsal, which involves connecting new information to prior knowledge and making meaningful associations between them, is a much more effective strategy for encoding information into long-term memory.

Question 8

Applying information to yourself, the self-reference effect, improves your memory for information.

Accepted Answer

The self-reference effect is a well-established phenomenon in psychology where applying information to oneself enhances memory for that information. It has been supported by numerous studies and is considered a reliable finding.

Question 9

Episodic memory is the category of long-term memory that includes the memory of facts, names, concepts, and other general knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Episodic memory is actually the category of long-term memory that includes personal experiences, events or episodes that have occurred in a person's life. The memory of facts, names, concepts, and other general knowledge falls under the category of semantic memory.

Question 10

Maintenance rehearsal focuses on the meaning of information and is useful for maintaining information in long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Maintenance rehearsal involves repeating information over and over without giving any meaningful consideration to it. It helps in keeping the information in short-term memory but is not useful for long-term memory retention. Encoding information deeply through elaborative rehearsal, which involves linking new information with pre-existing knowledge or creating associations, is more effective for long-term memory retention.

Question 11

Chunking is one way of increasing the storage capacity of short-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Chunking refers to the process of grouping information into smaller, more manageable units in order to hold more information in short-term memory. Therefore, it is a way of increasing the storage capacity of short-term memory.

Question 12

According to the working memory model developed by British psychologist Alan Baddeley, the "phonological loop" is the component that is specialized for spatial or visual material, such as remembering the layout of a room or city.

Accepted Answer

The phonological loop is actually specialized for verbal and auditory material, not spatial or visual material. The component specialized for spatial or visual material is the visuospatial sketchpad.

Question 13

When Travis arrived at his 9 AM math class, a classmate asked Travis what had been discussed in the 8 AM political science class. Travis was able to answer because the information was stored in his long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Travis was able to answer the question because the information was stored in his long-term memory.

Question 14

Clustering is one way of increasing the storage capacity and duration of short-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Clustering refers to the organization of information into meaningful groups or categories, which can help in improving the recall from short-term memory by reducing the cognitive load, but it does not increase the actual storage capacity or duration of short-term memory itself.

Question 15

Long-term memory storage capacity seems to be limitless.

Accepted Answer

While there is no clear limit to the amount of information that can be stored in long-term memory, it is possible for certain factors such as aging, disease, or brain damage to impact one's memory storage capacity. However, in general, the capacity for long-term memory is believed to be very large and not easily quantifiable.

Question 16

David looks up a phone number and then continues to repeat the number until he has dialed it. This is an example of maintenance rehearsal.

Accepted Answer

Maintenance rehearsal involves repeating information over and over in order to keep it in short-term memory. David is repeating the phone number to himself as a way of maintaining the information in his short-term memory until he dials it.

Question 17

When your short-term memory store is filled to capacity, new information displaces currently held information.

Accepted Answer

This is true. When the short-term memory store is full, new information displaces the old information. This is why it is important to continually rehearse or transfer important information to long-term memory.

Question 18

Working memory provides temporary storage for information that is currently being used in some conscious cognitive activity.

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately describes the function of working memory.

Question 19

According to the working memory model developed by British psychologist Alan Baddeley, the "central executive" controls attention, integrates information, and manages the activities of the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad.

Accepted Answer

This is an accurate description of Baddeley's working memory model. The central executive is responsible for controlling attention and coordinating the phonological loop and visuospatial sketchpad.

Question 20

British psychologist and memory researcher Alan Baddeley developed the best-known model of working memory, which has three components, the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the central executive.

Accepted Answer

This is a widely accepted fact in the field of psychology and memory research.

Quiz 6: Section 3: Memory