A group of control-room trainees completed memory tasks using spoken radio call signs and summaries of operating procedures. Their mean results are shown in the table.
| Material learned | Number of items | Recall test | Mean percentage of items correctly recalled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call signs that sounded different | 5 | Immediately | 90% |
| Call signs that sounded different | 11 | Immediately | 58% |
| Call signs that sounded alike | 5 | Immediately | 62% |
| Call signs that sounded different | 5 | After counting backwards for 30 seconds | 35% |
| Procedure summaries with similar meanings | 5 | After one week | 53% |
| Procedure summaries with different meanings | 5 | After one week | 80% |
Using the multi-store model, explain how the pattern of results supports the claim that short-term memory and long-term memory are separate stores. Explain what is likely to happen to recall if the trainees repeat the five different-sounding call signs instead of counting backwards during the 30-second delay.
84 exam-style questions on OCR GCSE Psychology 5.2 Theories/Explanations, covering 5.2.1 Multi-store Model structure, 5.2.2 Differences between memory stores; criticisms, 5.2.3 Multi-store Model research study: Wilson et al. (2008), 5.2.4 Reconstructive memory: schemas, experience and expectation, 5.2.5 Reconstructive memory: confabulation and leading questions; criticisms, and 5.2.6 Reconstructive Memory research study: Braun, Ellis and Loftus (2002). Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.