Question 1

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 individual pieces of information into larger, meaningful units. By doing so, more information can be held in short-term memory because the brain can only process a limited amount of individual pieces of information at one time. Therefore, chunking allows for more efficient use of short-term memory. Decoding refers to the process of deciphering or interpreting information, which does not directly relate to increasing the capacity of short-term memory. Rote rehearsal refers to repeating information over and over again, which may help to transfer information from short-term to long-term memory, but does not increase the capacity of short-term memory. Data compression refers to the process of reducing the size of digital data, such as through file compression, and is irrelevant to the capacity of short-term memory.

Question 2

Someone a short distance away, to whom you have been paying no attention, quietly speaks your name, and suddenly you attend to that person. This is an example of _________.
A) Broadbent's process of selective memory
B) the phi phenomenon
C) the cocktail party effect
D) cue-controlled inhibition

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of the cocktail party effect, which refers to the ability to selectively attend to information while filtering out competing stimuli. In this case, the person speaking your name was initially not attended to, but the familiar sound of your name acted as a cue that captured your attention. Broadbent's process of selective memory, the phi phenomenon, and cue-controlled inhibition are not applicable to this scenario.

Question 3

Suppose you're pitching in a baseball game and facing a good hitter. You remember that you struck him out with a fastball the last time he was up. You also remember that your coach told you to always try to be unpredictable, so you decide to throw a curve ball this time. In making this decision, you are primarily using your _________.
A) central executive
B) fight-or-flight response
C) modality-specific memory
D) long-term potentiation

Accepted Answer

The central executive is responsible for making decisions and planning actions based on past experiences and current information. In this scenario, the decision to throw a curveball instead of a fastball is based on past experience of striking the batter out with a fastball and current information such as the situation in the game and the hitter's tendencies. The fight-or-flight response, modality-specific memory, and long-term potentiation are not relevant to this decision.

Question 4

Bethany is trying to focus on a conversation across the room during a party she is attending. This is because she thinks she heard her name above the din of the conversation. Her ability to hear her name is due to the mechanism of _________.
A) Broadbent's forgetting theory
B) the homecoming queen party phenomenon
C) selective attention
D) intimacy

Accepted Answer

Selective attention refers to the ability to focus on relevant information while ignoring irrelevant information. In this scenario, Bethany is able to selectively attend to the conversation across the room because she thinks she heard her name, indicating that her attention is focused on the relevant information.

Question 5

Repeating items over and over in order to aid memory is known as _________ rehearsal.
A) repetitive
B) imagery
C) elaborative
D) maintenance

Accepted Answer

Maintenance rehearsal involves repeating items over and over again in order to maintain them in short-term memory. Imagery rehearsal involves creating mental images to aid in memory, and elaborative rehearsal involves connecting new information to previously learned information to aid in memory. Repetitive rehearsal is not a recognized term in psychology for memory strategies.

Question 6

Which theorist is associated with the idea that information not actively attended to is not lost; rather, it simply decreases in signal strength and is therefore not given any significance or future attention?
A) Treisman
B) Atkinson
C) Sperling
D) Broadbent

Accepted Answer

Treisman proposed the attenuation theory of attention, which suggests that unattended information is not completely filtered out, but rather its signal strength is attenuated or decreased. This means that the unattended information is available for processing if it becomes relevant or important later.

Question 7

In the 1950s, George Miller estimated the number of items that could be stored in short-term memory to be the magic number _________.
A) 5, plus or minus 4
B) 7, plus or minus 2
C) 9, plus or minus 3
D) 11, plus or minus 1

Accepted Answer

George Miller's research suggested that the capacity of short-term memory is approximately 7 items, plus or minus 2. This means that individuals can typically hold 5-9 items in their short-term memory at once.

Question 8

According to Baddeley, which memory system is best conceived of as three interrelated systems: central executive, visual sketchpad, and auditory recorder?
A) sensory memory
B) working memory
C) long-term memory
D) nondeclarative memory

Accepted Answer

Baddeley proposed that working memory is composed of three interrelated systems: central executive, visual sketchpad, and auditory recorder. This model is widely accepted as a more detailed and accurate framework for understanding working memory. Sensory memory refers to the initial, brief storage of sensory information. Long-term memory refers to the storage of information over a longer period of time. Nondeclarative memory refers to memories that are not consciously accessible or able to be verbalized.

Question 9

You try to remember a phone number by repeating it over and over to yourself. What type of rehearsal are you using?
A) condensed
B) permanent
C) elaborative
D) maintenance

Accepted Answer

The type of rehearsal being used is maintenance, which involves repeating information actively in order to maintain it in short-term memory.

Question 10

Which theorist is associated with the idea that information moves from sensory memory to short-term memory through the processes of selective attention?
A) Thorndike
B) Atkinson
C) Sperling
D) Broadbent

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which theorist is associated with the idea...

Question 11

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

The tactic of organizing the letters into the words INK and LATE demonstrates the process of chunking, where information is broken down into meaningful chunks to aid in memorization.

Question 12

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 together into larger, more meaningful units. This can help with memory retention and recall.

Question 13

Bits of information are combined into meaningful units so that more information can be held in short-term memory through the process of _________.
A) chunking
B) categorizing
C) rote rehearsal
D) cueing

Accepted Answer

Chunking involves grouping bits of information together to form larger, more meaningful units, which can increase the amount of information that can be held in short-term memory. Categorizing and cueing do not involve combining information into larger units, and rote rehearsal involves simply repeating information without grouping it.

Question 14

Jamal is trying to buy something over the phone. He asks his partner to read him his credit card number. However, when he tries to repeat it to the sales clerk on the other end of the line, he can't remember all the numbers. Jamal is coming up against _________.
A) the decay of numerical memory
B) the extinction of auditory traces
C) George Miller's magic number - 7 plus or minus 2
D) the limits of nondeclarative memory

Accepted Answer

Jamal's difficulty in remembering the credit card number is an example of the limits of working memory, specifically related to George Miller's magic number, which suggests that the average person can hold about 7 (plus or minus 2) items in their short-term memory.

Question 15

Suppose Tamika looks up a number in the telephone book. After getting a busy signal, a minute or so later she tries to call again-but has already forgotten the number! This example illustrates the limited duration of _________ memory.
A) sensory
B) short-term
C) echoic
D) implicit

Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question is an example of short-term memory. Tamika was able to hold the number in her memory for a short period of time, but when she was distracted by the busy signal, the information was lost from her memory. This is typical of the limited duration of short-term memory, which can only hold a limited amount of information for a brief period of time without rehearsal. Sensory and echoic memory refer to different types of sensory memory, while implicit memory refers to a type of long-term memory.

Question 16

Micah is trying to remember the specific route he took to the library the night before. What part of working memory is he accessing?
A) the articulatory loop
B) the visual sketchpad
C) the internal executive
D) the control sequence

Accepted Answer

Micah is accessing his visual sketchpad, which is responsible for the temporary storage and manipulation of visual images or information. In this case, he is trying to recall the visual information of the route he took to the library.

Question 17

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 of the student ID number are referred to as "chunks" because they are essentially breaking down a larger piece of information into smaller, more manageable parts. Choice A (codes) is not quite accurate as the numbers themselves are not actually codes. Choice B (cues) is more related to hints or prompts for remembering information, but does not necessarily refer specifically to breaking down larger pieces of information into smaller chunks. Choice D (stores) does not accurately describe how Maria is organizing the information in her mind, as she is not storing the number in separate locations, but rather breaking it down into smaller segments for easier recall.

Question 18

What "magic number" did Miller find to be the capacity of short-term memory?
A) 11
B) 9
C) 7
D) 5

Accepted Answer

Miller found the capacity of short-term memory to be around 7 (plus or minus 2) items, which became known as the "magic number 7".

Question 19

Maintenance rehearsal is defined as _________.
A) processing the physical features of the stimulus to be remembered
B) analyzing new material in order to make it memorable
C) associating new material to be learned with information maintained in long-term memory
D) repeating some bit of information over and over in one's head in order to maintain it in short-term memory

Accepted Answer

Maintenance rehearsal involves repeating a piece of information over and over in one's head in order to keep it in short-term memory. This type of rehearsal is useful for memorizing information temporarily, but it is not effective for transferring information to long-term memory.

Question 20

Which memory system is the one that is a working, active system that processes the information within it?
A) long-term memory
B) short-term memory
C) secondary memory
D) cognitive dissonance

Accepted Answer

Short-term memory, also known as working memory, is the system responsible for actively processing information in the present moment. It has a limited capacity and duration, allowing us to hold onto information temporarily while we use it to complete tasks or solve problems. Long-term memory is the system responsible for storing and retrieving information over a longer period of time, while secondary memory is not a recognized type of memory system. Cognitive dissonance refers to the discomfort or mental stress that arises from holding two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values.

Quiz 6: Memory

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

Someone a short distance away, to whom you have been paying no attention, quietly speaks your name, and suddenly you attend to that person. This is an example of _________.

Bethany is trying to focus on a conversation across the room during a party she is attending. This is because she thinks she heard her name above the din of the conversation. Her ability to hear her name is due to the mechanism of _________.

Repeating items over and over in order to aid memory is known as _________ rehearsal.

Which theorist is associated with the idea that information not actively attended to is not lost; rather, it simply decreases in signal strength and is therefore not given any significance or future attention?

In the 1950s, George Miller estimated the number of items that could be stored in short-term memory to be the magic number _________.

According to Baddeley, which memory system is best conceived of as three interrelated systems: central executive, visual sketchpad, and auditory recorder?

You try to remember a phone number by repeating it over and over to yourself. What type of rehearsal are you using?

Which theorist is associated with the idea that information moves from sensory memory to short-term memory through the processes of selective attention?

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 _________.

Chunking is a means of _________.

Bits of information are combined into meaningful units so that more information can be held in short-term memory through the process of _________.

Jamal is trying to buy something over the phone. He asks his partner to read him his credit card number. However, when he tries to repeat it to the sales clerk on the other end of the line, he can't remember all the numbers. Jamal is coming up against _________.

Suppose Tamika looks up a number in the telephone book. After getting a busy signal, a minute or so later she tries to call again-but has already forgotten the number! This example illustrates the limited duration of _________ memory.

Micah is trying to remember the specific route he took to the library the night before. What part of working memory is he accessing?

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 _________.

What "magic number" did Miller find to be the capacity of short-term memory?

Maintenance rehearsal is defined as _________.

Which memory system is the one that is a working, active system that processes the information within it?