ExpertEasy1 markMultiple Choice
AQA GCSE · Question 02 · Cognition and Behaviour
Which of the following statements about short-term memory (STM) is true?
Which of the following statements about short-term memory (STM) is true?
Answer options:
A.
STM can hold information for up to 30 seconds.
B.
STM can store approximately 15 pieces of information.
C.
STM transfers information to long-term memory through attention.
D.
STM usually encodes information semantically.
How to approach this question
Recall the key features of short-term memory: capacity, duration, and encoding. Evaluate each statement against these known features. Statement A correctly identifies the duration of STM.
Full Answer
A.STM can hold information for up to 30 seconds.✓ Correct
The correct answer is A. According to models like the Multi-Store Model, the duration of short-term memory is limited, typically lasting up to 30 seconds without rehearsal.
Short-term memory (STM) is a temporary storage system. Its key features are: a limited capacity of around 7 items, a limited duration of up to 30 seconds, and it primarily encodes information acoustically. Option A correctly states its duration. Option B overestimates its capacity. Option C misidentifies the transfer mechanism to LTM (it's rehearsal, not just attention). Option D incorrectly states the encoding method (it's acoustic, not semantic).
Common mistakes
Confusing the features of STM and LTM. For example, thinking STM has a large capacity or encodes semantically.
Practice the full AQA GCSE Psychology Paper 1
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