Models of Memory: Multistore & Levels of Processing

 

📘 7.2 Models of Memory: Multistore & Levels of Processing

Understanding how memory works involves studying theoretical models that explain the flow, processing, and storage of information. Two important models in this regard are:

• The Atkinson-Shiffrin Multistore Model
• Craik and Lockhart’s Levels of Processing Model

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🧱 I. The Multistore Model (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968)

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📌 A. Key Idea

Memory consists of three sequential stores:

1. Sensory Memory
2. Short-Term Memory (STM)
3. Long-Term Memory (LTM)

Information passes from one store to another through attention, encoding, and rehearsal.

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🔄 Flow Diagram

Sensory Input 
    ↓
[ Sensory Memory ]
 → (Attention)
    ↓
[ Short-Term Memory ]
 → (Rehearsal)
    ↓
[ Long-Term Memory ]
 ← (Retrieval)

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🧠 Store-Wise Explanation

Store	Duration	Capacity	Process	Example
Sensory Memory	< 1 second	Large	Attention	Seeing a flash of light
Short-Term Memory	15–30 sec	7 ± 2 items	Rehearsal	Remembering a phone number
Long-Term Memory	Unlimited	Unlimited	Encoding/Retrieval	Facts from NCERT, life events

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🔍 Indian Example

• UPSC aspirant’s workflow:
  • Sees a fact in a PDF (Sensory Memory)
  • Reads aloud and repeats it (STM with rehearsal)
  • Encodes via mind-mapping or recall (LTM)

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✅ Criticism

• Too linear – fails to explain why we remember emotionally significant events without rehearsal.
• Doesn’t address levels or quality of encoding.

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🔬 II. Levels of Processing Model (Craik & Lockhart, 1972)

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📌 A. Key Idea

Memory depends on the depth at which information is processed, not just which store it enters.

“Deeper processing → Better retention”

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🧠 Levels

Level	Type of Processing	Example	Memory Strength
Shallow	Structural (what it looks like)	Recognising a word’s font style	Weak
Intermediate	Phonemic (what it sounds like)	Rhyming word pairs	Moderate
Deep	Semantic (what it means)	Relating word to personal experience	Strong

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🔄 Example Breakdown

Word: “Democracy”

• Shallow: Does it have the letter “D”? → low recall.
• Intermediate: Does it rhyme with “bureaucracy”? → medium recall.
• Deep: What are its core values? → high retention.

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🧑‍🏫 Classroom Example

• Shallow: Rote memorizing Article 14.
• Deep: Connecting Article 14 with real-life cases like Navtej Johar (LGBTQ rights) or EWS reservation – this leads to longer retention.

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🏛️ Relevance to UPSC & Governance

Model	Application in Governance or Education
Multistore Model	Design of e-learning apps – flow from exposure to testing to revision.
Levels of Processing	Value-based learning for civil services – deeper encoding via ethics case studies, real-life law applications.

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📝 Answer Writing Strategy

• Intro: Define what memory models are and why they matter.
• Body: Explain both models with diagrams, flowcharts, examples.
• Use UPSC-prep relevant analogies (e.g., current affairs to LTM via analysis).
• Conclusion: Emphasise depth of understanding over rote recall.

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🧠 Summary Table

Feature	Multistore Model	Levels of Processing Model
Focus	Memory structure (stores)	Depth of encoding
Key processes	Attention, rehearsal	Semantic analysis
Explains strong memory?	Only through rehearsal	Through meaning-based encoding
Limitation	Over-simplified	Ignores role of memory stores

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