Attribute Model of Memory
The attribute model of memory was first proposed by Atkinson and Shiffrin in 1968. It has since been used to explain how people store and retrieve information in memory. The model proposes that information is encoded in terms of attributes, which are characteristics that describe the information. This information is then stored in three different memory stores: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory.
Sensory memory is the first stage of memory. It is a very brief storage system that holds information for a few seconds before it is forgotten. This type of memory is limited to the sensory information that is currently being experienced. For example, a person might be able to remember the color of a car they saw for a few seconds, but not the make or model.
Short-term memory is the second stage of memory. It is a limited-capacity memory system that holds information for up to 30 seconds. This type of memory is used to store and process information that is currently being used. For example, a person might be able to remember a phone number they heard for a few minutes, but not if they don’t use it.
Long-term memory is the third stage of memory. It is an unlimited-capacity memory system that can hold information for years or even a lifetime. This type of memory is used to store information that is no longer being used but needs to be remembered. For example, a person might be able to remember the make and model of a car they saw many years ago.
The attribute model of memory suggests that information is encoded in terms of attributes and stored in three different memory stores. This model provides a useful framework for understanding how people store and retrieve information in memory.
References
Atkinson, R.C., & Shiffrin, R.M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. In K.W. Spence & J.T. Spence (Eds.), The psychology of learning and motivation: Advances in research and theory (Vol. 2, pp. 89-195). New York, NY: Academic Press.
Baddeley, A. (2007). Working memory, thought, and action. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Cowan, N. (2001). The magical number 4 in short-term memory: A reconsideration of mental storage capacity. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 24(1), 87-114.
Tulving, E., & Thomson, D.M. (1973). Encoding specificity and retrieval processes in episodic memory. Psychological Review, 80(5), 352-373.