Question 1

While driving with her two young children Kathy's car broke down. She called her husband on her cell phone and he told her the phone number of a towing company to call. If the children's behavior prevents her from repeating the phone number to herself, most likely Kathy will need to dial the phone number within the next ____ or she will forget the number.
A) minute
B) 45 seconds
C) 20 seconds
D) 2 seconds

Accepted Answer

According to research, the average person can retain about 7 pieces of information in their short-term memory for about 20 seconds. Therefore, if Kathy's children are preventing her from repeating the phone number, she will likely need to dial the number within the next 20 seconds or she may forget it.

Question 2

Jade rearranges the letters HI TRE DBA T into "hit red bat." This is an example of
A) chunking.
B) elaboration.
C) rehearsal.
D) clustering.

Accepted Answer

Chunking is the process of organizing information into smaller, manageable chunks. In this case, Jade grouped the letters into a recognizable phrase "hit red bat."

Question 3

The ability of people to "juggle" information in working memory in order to reason and make decisions is handled by the ____ component of working memory.
A) executive control system
B) rehearsal loop
C) visual imagery
D) schematic

Accepted Answer

The executive control system is responsible for manipulating and organizing information in working memory, which allows individuals to reason and make decisions based on that information. The rehearsal loop is responsible for maintaining information in working memory, whereas visual imagery and schematic components deal with the sensory and perceptual aspects of information.

Question 4

As Art was walking out the door of his apartment, he was quickly running through a mental list of all the things he was supposed to take with him. He went through the complete list of items four or five times, just to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything. Based on Baddeley's model of working memory, Art was utilizing
A) the visuospatial sketchpad to arrange all the information he needed.
B) the rehearsal loop to temporarily hold his list of essential items.
C) the executive control system to juggle all the information he needed to consider.
D) his prospective memory to remember the actions he still needed to perform.

Accepted Answer

Baddeley's model of working memory consists of a phonological loop (used for temporary storage of verbal information), a visuospatial sketchpad (used for visual and spatial information), and an executive control system (used for planning, decision-making, and attentional control). In this scenario, Art is utilizing the rehearsal loop of the phonological loop to temporarily hold his mental list of essential items.

Question 5

Which of the following statements concerning short-term memory is false?
A) short-term memory is also referred to as working memory
B) the storage capacity of short-term memory is approximately seven items
C) unrehearsed information is usually maintained in short-term memory for approximately five minutes
D) information in short-term memory is usually stored according to sounds

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements concerning short-term...

Question 6

According to Baddeley, short-term or working memory does NOT include which of the following components?
A) a rehearsal loop
B) a feature-detection element
C) a visuospatial sketchpad
D) an executive control system

Accepted Answer

Baddeley's model of working memory includes a rehearsal loop (for verbal information), a visuospatial sketchpad (for visual and spatial information), and an executive control system (for coordinating and manipulating information). However, it does not include a feature-detection element, which is part of sensory memory.

Question 7

While at a yard sale, you and your roommate find a great old sofa. As you are trying to decide if it will fit in your dorm room if you rearrange the beds, dressers, and desks, you would be using the ____ component of working memory.
A) visuospatial sketchpad
B) semantic buffer
C) executive control system
D) phonological rehearsal loop

Accepted Answer

The visuospatial sketchpad component of working memory is responsible for processing and manipulating visual and spatial information, which would be necessary for determining if the sofa would fit in the dorm room and how it could be rearranged. The semantic buffer is responsible for processing and storing meaning of words and concepts, which is not relevant in this scenario. The executive control system is responsible for coordinating and regulating information from all components of working memory and processing new information, but it is not specifically involved in the spatial visualization necessary for rearranging furniture. The phonological rehearsal loop is responsible for processing and storing auditory information, which is also not relevant in this scenario.

Question 8

Which memory system is referred to in your text as "working memory"?
A) sensory memory
B) short-term memory
C) long-term memory
D) all of these collectively

Accepted Answer

In the given options, "working memory" refers to short-term memory. Sensory memory refers to the initial processing of sensory information, and long-term memory refers to the storage of information over an extended period. Therefore, only option B, short-term memory, is the correct choice.

Question 9

Mia was trying to figure out how to fit the box that contained her new computer into the trunk of her car. She mentally manipulated the position of the box, trying to figure out a way to make it fit. Based on Baddeley's model of working memory, Mia was utilizing
A) the visuospatial sketchpad to mentally manipulate the box's position.
B) the rehearsal loop while she worked repeatedly on the problem.
C) the executive control system to juggle all the information she needed to consider.
D) her prospective memory to remember the actions she would need to perform.

Accepted Answer

Mia is mentally manipulating the position of the box in her mind, which suggests she is utilizing the visuospatial sketchpad component of working memory. The visuospatial sketchpad is responsible for processing and manipulating visual and spatial information.

Question 10

Short-term memory
A) can maintain rehearsed information for approximately five minutes.
B) is a limited-capacity store that can maintain unrehearsed information for up to about 20 seconds.
C) preserves information in its original sensory form for a brief time, usually only a fraction of a second.
D) is an unlimited capacity store that can hold information over lengthy periods of time.

Accepted Answer

Short-term memory is a limited-capacity store that can maintain unrehearsed information for up to about 20 seconds. This is in contrast to long-term memory, which can hold information over lengthy periods of time. Sensory memory (option C) only preserves information in its original sensory form for a brief time, usually only a fraction of a second. Option A is incorrect because rehearsed information can be maintained for longer than five minutes if it is transferred to long-term memory. Option D is incorrect because short-term memory is a limited capacity store.

Question 11

Mark is listening as his roommate lists 14 things that they need to buy for their apartment before the end of the week. Based on George Miller's research into the capacity of short-term memory, if Mark doesn't write the items down as he hears them, he is most likely to remember
A) less than 5 of the items from the list.
B) approximately 10 to 12 items from the list.
C) the entire list.
D) between 5 and 9 items from the list.

Accepted Answer

According to Miller's research, the capacity of short-term memory is around 7 plus or minus 2 items. Therefore, if Mark doesn't write the items down, he is most likely to remember between 5 and 9 items from the list. Option A is too low and option C is too high. Option B is close, but not as accurate as option D.

Question 12

Graham has selected four different universities that he might like to attend, and now he is trying to decide which of the four he should apply to. He has all the material spread out in front of him, and he is carefully considering all the advantages and disadvantages associated with each campus. Based on Baddeley's model of working memory, Graham is utilizing
A) the rehearsal loop to repeat only the most important aspects of each campus.
B) the executive control system to juggle all the information he needs to consider.
C) the visuospatial sketchpad to mentally manipulate the pros and cons for each campus.
D) his prospective memory to keep in mind his overall goals in attending university.

Accepted Answer

Baddeley's model of working memory includes the executive control system, which is responsible for managing and manipulating information in working memory. Graham is considering the advantages and disadvantages of each campus and is likely using his executive control system to juggle and weigh all the information. Therefore, the best answer is B. While Graham may also use other components of working memory, such as the visuospatial sketchpad, rehearsal loop, or prospective memory, they are not explicitly mentioned in the scenario given.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a component of working memory?
A) visuospatial sketchpad
B) executive control system
C) phonological rehearsal loop
D) semantic buffer

Accepted Answer

The semantic buffer is not a component of working memory. The other options are all components of working memory as described by the multi-component model of working memory.

Question 14

Rehearsal is most beneficial for maintaining information in ____ memory.
A) sensory
B) short-term
C) intermediate-term
D) long-term

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rehearsal is most beneficial for maintaining information...

Question 15

The storage capacity of short-term memory is approximately ____ items.
A) 4
B) 7
C) 10
D) 12

Accepted Answer

The capacity of short-term memory is generally believed to be around 7 (plus or minus 2) items. This is known as Miller's Law, and it has been supported by various studies on memory span. Therefore, the best choice is letter B, which corresponds to the number 7.

Question 16

Baddeley's concept of working memory
A) integrates sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory into a single, complex system.
B) expands the functions and processes of short-term memory.
C) takes the place of the old concept of sensory memory.
D) expands the functions and processes of long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

Baddeley's concept of working memory expands the functions and processes of short-term memory, including active maintenance of information and mental manipulation of that information. It is considered distinct from both sensory memory and long-term memory.

Question 17

The storage capacity of short-term memory can be increased by combining items in larger units called
A) categories.
B) words.
C) groups.
D) chunks.

Accepted Answer

The storage capacity of short-term memory can be increased by combining items into larger units called chunks. This allows for more efficient and effective processing and retrieval of information.

Question 18

Chunking involves
A) the internal repetition of material a person is trying to remember.
B) forming connections between new information and information already in memory.
C) creating visual images of information to be stored in memory.
D) rearranging incoming information into meaningful or familiar patterns.

Accepted Answer

Chunking involves rearranging incoming information into meaningful or familiar patterns. This can help increase the amount of information that can be stored in short-term memory. For example, instead of remembering a string of numbers as individual digits (e.g., 1-8-7-6-4-2-9-5), chunking them into groups based on meaning (e.g., 18-76-42-95) can make them easier to remember.

Question 19

According to Cowan, the capacity of short-term memory has been ____ because researchers have not controlled for ____ by participants.
A) overestimated; covert chunking
B) underestimated; covert chunking
C) overestimated; serial positioning
D) underestimated; serial positioning

Accepted Answer

Cowan argued that the capacity of short-term memory has been overestimated because researchers did not control for covert chunking by participants, which can artificially inflate the apparent memory span.

Question 20

When you mentally picture the road between your house and school, you are relying on which component of working memory?
A) the visuospatial sketchpad
B) the conceptual hierarchy
C) the rehearsal loop
D) the executive control system

Accepted Answer

The visuospatial sketchpad is responsible for processing and manipulating visual and spatial information, such as mentally picturing a route or location.

Quiz 13: Human Memory Part 1

Jade rearranges the letters HI TRE DBA T into "hit red bat." This is an example of

The ability of people to "juggle" information in working memory in order to reason and make decisions is handled by the ____ component of working memory.

Which of the following statements concerning short-term memory is false?

According to Baddeley, short-term or working memory does NOT include which of the following components?

While at a yard sale, you and your roommate find a great old sofa. As you are trying to decide if it will fit in your dorm room if you rearrange the beds, dressers, and desks, you would be using the ____ component of working memory.

Which memory system is referred to in your text as "working memory"?

Mia was trying to figure out how to fit the box that contained her new computer into the trunk of her car. She mentally manipulated the position of the box, trying to figure out a way to make it fit. Based on Baddeley's model of working memory, Mia was utilizing

Short-term memory

Mark is listening as his roommate lists 14 things that they need to buy for their apartment before the end of the week. Based on George Miller's research into the capacity of short-term memory, if Mark doesn't write the items down as he hears them, he is most likely to remember

Which of the following is NOT a component of working memory?

Rehearsal is most beneficial for maintaining information in ____ memory.

The storage capacity of short-term memory is approximately ____ items.

Baddeley's concept of working memory

The storage capacity of short-term memory can be increased by combining items in larger units called

Chunking involves

According to Cowan, the capacity of short-term memory has been because researchers have not controlled for by participants.

When you mentally picture the road between your house and school, you are relying on which component of working memory?