Interference in STM - You will need a friend with a watch that counts seconds for this. Have your friend call out 3 consonant letters (such as WTR). You start counting backwards from 100 by 3 (100, 97, 94, etc.) until your friend says stop (5 seconds). Try to recall the letters. Now have your friend call out 3 more letters and you count backwards for 10 seconds and recall. Do this for 15 and 20 seconds also, What happens?
Overall description of memory (types and models of memory) with examples of how it can be used in the classroom can be found at Dr. Huitt's site.
Chapter 6 exercises - Memory. NOTE: Make sure that you reword this information in YOUR words. If you just copy word for word from the book or links, the assignment will not count. In addition, if you can't find the material on the web site, try using your book.
*EXERCISE 1
Try the following experiment - located at the
exploratorium. Don't cheat by looking at a penny before you begin!
1. Which penny did you pick? Which aspects of the penny were wrong?
2. According to the book, why don't you remember this information?
3. Try this
experiment on memory - just follow the instructions. What happened?
According to the book, why do people remember items that weren't presented
(look under the sections past Memory as Reconstruction)?
*EXERCISE 2 - mnemonics
What are mnemonics? Look to this site: Mnemonics
at Mind Tools
The book discusses a number of ways to prevent forgetting. One method
is to use mnemonics.
1. What are mnemonics?
2. Describe, in your own words, 3 different types (either from book
or web site). Using the website, explain one application of a mnemonic
technique.
3. Develop 3 mnemonics that you could use to remember psychology terms.
Rote memorization is NOT a mnemonic technique!
*EXERCISE 3 - demonstrates the size of STM and chunking.
Short
term memory experiment (either words or faces)
1. How many items could you hold in your STM?
2. Now try
this. What is chunking and how could it increase the amount of information
stored in your STM?
*EXERCISE 4 - False memory syndrome
Frontline
interview with Elizabeth Loftus on memories and eyewitness testimony.
More information about represessed memory and memory and the law can be
found here.
Scroll down to the appropriate site.
Information about false memory syndrome can be found at the FMSF.
Dr. Jim Hopper has worked with a number of patients and supports the idea
of repressed memories. Here is his
site. Using a few of the above sites and the book, answer the following
questions. There is a lot of information in these sites - do the best you
can.
1. What are repressed memories?
2. What is some of the evidence for repressed memories?
3. What is False Memory Syndrome?
4. What are some of the therapy practices that have been related to
FMS (see FAQs)
5. What are some of the myths about repressed memories?