Working Memory Model (AQA A Level Psychology): Exam Questions

A researcher investigated the working memory model using a laboratory experiment. Forty students from a local college volunteered to take part.

In Condition A, 20 students performed the following two tasks at the same time:

• mentally counting backwards from 100

• tracking coloured shapes on a computer screen.

In Condition B, 20 different students performed the following two tasks at the same time:

• mentally counting backwards from 100

• reading a poem out loud.

The researcher predicted that the performance of students in Condition A would be better than the performance of students in Condition B.

Name the two components of working memory that would be involved in the performance of the tasks in Condition A.

Mentally counting backwards from 100:........................................

Tracking coloured shapes on a computer screen:..........................

Amir was talking to his friend Sunita on the phone and drawing doodles at the same time. When he tried to write down some ideas he had about what to buy Sunita for her birthday, he found that he lost track of what Sunita was saying and had to ask her to repeat the information.

With reference to Amir’s conversation with Sunita, explain why Amir found it difficult to write down information that was different to the conversation content and why this did not occur when drawing doodles.