Coding in Short-Term Memory

Coding refers to the format in which information is stored in the various memory stores. In short-term memory (STM), studies suggest that information is primarily encoded acoustically, meaning based on sound. This essay will examine the evidence presented in Table 1 to support this claim.

Analysis of Table 1

Table 1 likely presents data comparing the recall of words that are acoustically similar (e.g., cat, hat, mat) versus words that are acoustically dissimilar (e.g., pen, day, tree). The statement provided indicates that "the mean number of words recalled is smaller when words are similar sounding than when they are different."

This observation strongly suggests that participants struggle to differentiate between items stored in STM based on their sound. When words sound alike, they interfere with each other, making it difficult to encode and recall them accurately. This phenomenon is known as acoustic interference or phonological similarity effect and provides significant support for the idea that STM relies heavily on acoustic coding.

Supporting Evidence and Alternative Explanations

The findings in Table 1 align with classic research by Conrad (1964), who found that participants were more likely to confuse letters that sounded similar (e.g., V and B) even when presented visually. This further reinforces the dominance of acoustic coding in STM.

However, it's crucial to acknowledge that STM is not solely limited to acoustic coding. Other research suggests that visual and semantic coding can also play a role. For instance, people can often remember the meaning of a sentence even if they forget the exact words. This implies that some semantic processing occurs in STM.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the information presented about Table 1, specifically the lower recall rate for acoustically similar words, strongly suggests that coding in STM is primarily based on sound. This is consistent with the concept of acoustic interference and aligns with established research findings. While visual and semantic coding may also be involved in STM to some extent, the evidence from Table 1 highlights the significant influence of acoustic encoding in this memory store.