MEMORY STORAGE
The mental operations by which our sensory experiences are converted into knowledge are called information processing. In the information processing model, information can be processed through input, storage and retrieve. At each process, a variety of control mechanism operates. (such as attention storage and retrieval).
Stages of memory storage.
The raw sensory information that is selected is then encoded in a form
of sound visual image, meaning that can be used in the next stages of memory.
The influential stage theory of memory assumes that humans have three stages of
memories that meet the need to store information for different length of time. Remember though that information lasts only for an instant in sensory registers,
much like sitting by the window on a speeding train as images rapidly move
through your field of vision. These fleeting images are called iconic if they are visual and echoic if
they are auditory information comes to us initially through our sensory
register is very brief, designed to hold an exact image of each sensory
experience until it can fully be processed e.g. visual information fades very
quickly probably 1/1of a second and for auditory information a vivid image of
what we hear is retained for about the same length. The raw-image data remains
in the sensory system even though information has been processed. The sensory
register contains unprocessed information which can be transferred to the next
stage i.e. short term memory. 2. Short term memory You have just read three paragraphs about king George of England have
started to answer questions about the material; your ability to retain this
material involves short term memory, a very important part of our memory
system. Information comes into short memory through either sensory and
perceptual processes or through long term memory, the short term memory has
been describe as a work bench because so much activity involved in processing
information goes on here. If the image is to be remembered it must be
transferred to short term memory which is a stage of temporary storage. Information is lost from STM In less than
half a minute unless it is renewed. Information can be renewed in STM by a
mental repetition or rehearsal. The aim is to keep material available until it
can be used or stored in an integrated fashion. Chunking that is the organizing
items into meaningful or manageable units , telephone numbers social security
numbers, license plates are common examples of how chunking can help to
remember lists of numbers in every day life. An interesting aspect of memory is
that we remember information experienced first and last better than what we
experience in the middle. The superior recall at the beginning of a list of
items is called primacy effect, while excellent memory of the end of the list
is called the regency effect. Together the combination is called the serial
position effect. 3.
Long term memory. In this third phase, information is retained for intervals ranging from
30 seconds to the full life of time of the organism. Storage of information at
this level is relatively permanent. Besides the time factor long term memory
differs from short term memory in two ways. First it is presumed to have unlimited capacity unlike STM. To transfer
information to long term memory a more elaborate system is needed. The process
is called encoding. It involves the preparation of information in a useful way
so that it can be remembered. Information can be processed and integrated in exiting memories. The
greater the degree of elaboration given to the item or incoming information the
more the likely it is that it will be remembered. Like in stm, information can
reach long term memory if it is rehearsed. John Anderson (1983, 1985) believes
that there is a distinction between declarative knowledge, information that can
be verbally communicated and procedural knowledge which consists of skills
about which it is difficult if not possible to communicate verbally.
Declarative knowledge has been called knowing that, procedural knowledge has
been called knowing how. Examples of procedural knowledge are driving a car and
reading. Declarative knowledge has been studied more extensively than procedural
knowledge. A common distinction is declarative knowledge is made in between
episodic memory and semantic memory.