Question 1: Describe the main components of the Working Memory Model as proposed by Baddeley and Hitch. Include their functions in your answer.

Answer: The main components are the Central Executive, the Phonological Loop, the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad, and the Episodic Buffer. The Central Executive controls attention and coordinates the other components. The Phonological Loop processes verbal and auditory information. The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad handles visual and spatial data. The Episodic Buffer integrates information from different sources into a single memory trace.

Question 2: Explain how the Phonological Loop helps us understand why people find it difficult to remember long lists of words.

Answer: The Phonological Loop has a limited capacity and processes verbal information through rehearsal. When a list of words is too long, the loop cannot rehearse all items effectively, leading to forgetting or errors.

Question 3: Identify which component of the Working Memory Model would be most active when someone is solving a mental maths problem involving visualizing a number sequence.

Answer: The Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad, as it handles visual and spatial information such as imagining a number sequence.

Question 4: Describe a real-life scenario where the Central Executive is heavily involved in your memory processing.

Answer: When you are multitasking, such as listening to a lecture while taking notes, the Central Executive directs your attention between listening and writing, managing and switching focus.

Question 5: Draw a simple diagram of the Working Memory Model, including all its main components. Label each part clearly.

Answer: A diagram should show a central box labeled 'Central Executive' connected to three other boxes: one labeled 'Phonological Loop' (linked to auditory/verbal processing), one labeled 'Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad' (linked to visual/spatial data), and one labeled 'Episodic Buffer' (integrating information).

Question 6: What role does the Episodic Buffer play in working memory? Provide an example to support your answer.

Answer: The Episodic Buffer acts as a temporary storage system that integrates information from different sources into a coherent episode. For example, when recalling a story, it combines visual images, sounds, and feelings into a unified memory.

Question 7: Explain why the Working Memory Model suggests that multitasking is difficult, especially when tasks involve the same component.

Answer: Multitasking is difficult because components like the Phonological Loop or Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad have limited capacity. Tasks that require the same component compete for resources, leading to interference and reduced performance.

Question 8: Sketch a diagram of the Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad and describe its function in your own words.

Answer: A simple sketch should depict a box labeled 'Visuo-Spatial Sketchpad' with arrows indicating its role in processing visual and spatial information. Its function is to handle visual images and spatial awareness, such as mentally navigating a route.

Question 9: Discuss how the Working Memory Model differs from the Multi-Store Model of memory.

Answer: The Working Memory Model suggests that memory is an active, limited-capacity system with multiple components handling different types of information. The Multi-Store Model views memory as a linear process with separate stores like the sensory register, short-term, and long-term memory, where information moves passively from one to another.

Question 10: Provide an example of how the Central Executive might help you focus on studying despite distractions.

Answer: The Central Executive filters out irrelevant stimuli, such as background noise or messages, helping you concentrate on your books and ignore distractions.