Summary
Several multicomponent models of memory (Bower, 1967) are presented and applied to the retention of three-digit numbers. Their application is based on the notion that both the digits making up a number stimulus and the position in which they appear can be interpreted as the components of a ‘memory vector’. The models are fitted to the data obtained in a Peterson-type experiment in which a single three-digit number was shown per trial. During the retention interval the subject engaged in an arithmetical task for either 13.6, 19.6, or 25.6 s. Following this, the subject attempted recall. Confidence ratings were also obtained. Twenty-four different types of correctly and incorrectly recalled responses were scored. Their frequency distributions were best predicted at each retention interval by a ‘dual encoding’ model which relies on the assumption that stimuli are stored both component-wise and by means of a single ‘unit code’ encoding the entire stimulus number. It is also shown that the confidence ratings may be successfully predicted from estimates of the expected number of components retained. About 80% of the rating variance is predicted by a parameter-free procedure.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bjork, E.L., Healy, A.F.: Short-term order and item retention. J. Verb. Learn. Verb. Behav. 13, 80–97 (1974)
Bower, G.H.: Application of a model to paired associates learning. Psychometrica 26, 255–280 (1961)
Bower, G.H.: Multicomponent theory of the memory trace. In: The psychology of learning and motivation, K.W. Spence and J.T. Spence (eds.) pp. 229–235. New York: Academic Press 1967
Chandler, J.P.: Subroutine Stepit: An algorithm that finds the values of parameters which minimize a given continuous function. Quantum Chemistry Program Exchange, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., 1965
Conrad, R.: Acoustic confusions in immediate memory. Br. J. Psychol. 55, 75–84 (1964)
Estes, W.K.: An associative basis for coding and organization in memory. In: Coding processes in human memory, A.W. Melton and E. Martin (eds.), pp. 161–190. Washington, D.C.: V.H. Winston & Sons 1972
Estes, W.K.: Phonemic coding and rehearsal in short-term memory for letter strings. J. Verb. Learn. Verb. Behav. 12, 360–372 (1973)
Jones, G.V.: A fragmentation hypothesis of memory: Cued recall of pictures and of sequential position. J. Exp. Psychol. Gen. 105, 277–293 (1976)
Nelson, T.O., Batchelder, W.H.: Forgetting in short-term recall: All-or-none or decremental. J. Exp. Psychol. 82, 96–106 (1969)
Rumelhart, D.E.: A multicomponent theory of confusions among briefly exposed alphabetic characters. (Tech. Rep. CHIP - 22). San Diego: University of California, Center for Human Processing 1971
Rumelhart, D.E., Siple, P.: The process of recognizing tachistoscopically presented words. Psychol. Rev. 81, 99–118 (1974)
Schmidt, R., Vorberg, D.: Das Kurzzeitgedächtnis beim Reproduzieren und Wiedererkennen (Bericht 69-1). Darmstadt (West Germany): Technische Hochschule Darmstadt, Institut für Psychologie, March 1969
Shepard, R.N., Kilpatric, D.W., Cunningham, J.P.: The internal representation of numbers. Cogn. Psychol. 7, 82–138 (1975)
Sperling, G., Speelman, R.G.: Acoustic similarity and auditory short-term memory experiments and a model. In: Models of human memory, D.A. Norman (ed.) New York: Academic Press 1970
Vorberg, D., Schmidt, R.: A testable property of some discrete state models for recognition memory. Psychol. Rev. 82, 316–324 (1975)
Wickens, T.D., Greitzer, F.L.: Second responses in paired-associate learning. J. Math. Psychol. 12, 225–261 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The original experimental study was funded by Grant Ey 4/3, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bad Godesberg. Further developments were made possible by Grant Sch 350/1 to R.S. from the same agency. Part of the theoretical work was done while D.V. was an NSF postdoctoral fellow at the Department of Psychology of New York University, New York. Free computer time was generously supplied by the Courant Institute of Applied Mathematics. We are grateful to Dietrich Albert, Stephanie Kelter, Micha Razel, and Paul Vitz for stimulating discussions.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Schmidt, R., Vorberg, D. Multicomponent models for the retention of numbers. Psychol. Res 40, 349–366 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309416
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00309416