AQA Psychology Memory Topic - 6 lessons

This resource contains a set of 6 powerpoint-based lessons with interactive activities, following the AQA A-level Psychology specification.

Session 1: The Multi-Store Model of Memory
Students will be introduced to the concepts of Sensory Memory store, Short-Term Memory store, and Long Term Memory store, including examples of the different types of Long Term Memory (Episodic, Semantic, Procedural). We will consider how information is encoded into each memory store, as well as the capacity and duration of the memory stores.

Session 2: The Working Memory Model
Zooming in on Short Term Memory, students will learn about the more recent model of memory, including the Central Executive and the Phonological and Visual subsystems. Students will learn to evaluate and compare both memory models.

Session 3: Explanations of Forgetting
Context-dependent memory, Retrieval Failure, and Interference will be explored as explanations for why people forget, or struggle to recall information in various scenarios.

Session 4: Application - Factors that influence Accuracy of Eyewitness Testimony
Students will discuss the effects of factors such as anxiety (e.g. “weapon focus”) can influence the accuracy of eyewitness testimony, as well as the effects of leading questions. We will also consider the techniques used to allow investigators to collect the most reliable information possible (e.g. the “cognitive interview”)

Session 5: Application - Levels of Processing and Techniques for Improving Memory
Beginning with a short ‘experiment’ task, students will be asked to memorise lists of words using 3 different techniques. We will then examine the results of this experiment (i.e. which techniques result in the most words recalled) and discuss how to apply memory knowledge to memorising information in real life situations.

Session 6: Mental Time Travel - Episodic Memory and Future Imagination
Students will learn about episodic, autobiographical, and “flashbulb” memories of past events, and draw parallels with the way that we are able to imagine future events and alternatives to reality.