What does Edexcel Psychology Topic 2 Memory cover?

Topic 2, Memory, asks how your memory works. It covers the structure and process of memory (encoding, storage and retrieval), the features of short-term and long-term memory, the multi-store model of memory, the theory of reconstructive memory, retrograde and anterograde amnesia, the core studies by Bartlett (1932) and Peterson and Peterson (1959), and the reductionism-holism debate. It is examined in Paper 1.

What are the core studies for Topic 2?

The named core studies are Bartlett (1932), who used the story War of the Ghosts to show memory is reconstructed using schemas, and Peterson and Peterson (1959), who used nonsense trigrams and a counting task to show short-term memory lasts about 18 seconds without rehearsal. You must know each study's aim, method, results, conclusion and evaluation.

What is the multi-store model of memory?

The multi-store model (Atkinson and Shiffrin) says memory has three stores. The sensory register holds incoming sense information briefly; if you pay attention, it passes to short-term memory (about seven items, 18 to 30 seconds); if you rehearse it, it transfers to long-term memory (unlimited and long-lasting). Information is retrieved from long-term memory back to short-term memory when needed. It is supported by the primacy-recency effect and amnesia cases but is criticised as too simple.

What is reconstructive memory?

Reconstructive memory (Bartlett) is the idea that memory is not an exact recording but is actively rebuilt each time we recall it, using schemas (frameworks of prior knowledge) to fill gaps. This causes distortion: we omit unfamiliar details, change them to fit expectations, and add details that were not there. It explains why eyewitness testimony can be unreliable.

How should I revise Topic 2 Memory?

Learn the features of short-term and long-term memory (capacity, duration, encoding) with the figures, then the multi-store model and reconstructive memory, and the two types of amnesia. Secure both core studies to four parts plus evaluation, and be ready to apply the reductionism-holism debate (Peterson is reductionist, Bartlett more holistic). Drill describe, explain and evaluate questions, including a maths-style question on recall data.

EnglandPsychology

Edexcel GCSE Psychology Topic 2 Memory: a complete overview of stores, models and the studies

A deep-dive Edexcel GCSE Psychology guide to Topic 2, Memory. Covers the structure and process of memory, the multi-store model, reconstructive memory, amnesia, the Bartlett and Peterson and Peterson core studies, and the reductionism-holism debate.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.816 min read1PS0 Topic 2Updated 2026-06-02

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

Jump to a section

What Topic 2 actually demands
The structure and process of memory
The multi-store model and reconstructive memory
Amnesia and the core studies
How Topic 2 is examined
Check your knowledge

What Topic 2 actually demands

Memory asks the guiding question "how does your memory work?". It runs from the basic processes and stores of memory, through two models (the multi-store model and reconstructive memory), to what brain damage reveals through amnesia, and finishes with two core studies and the reductionism-holism debate. Edexcel tests precise knowledge of the stores and theories and the ability to evaluate the studies.

This guide walks through the topic in specification order, then sets out the exam patterns. Each part has a matching dot-point page with practice questions; this overview ties them together.

The structure and process of memory

Memory works through three processes: encoding (changing information into a storable form), storage (holding it) and retrieval (getting it back). Short-term memory has a small capacity (about seven items), a short duration (about 18 to 30 seconds) and mainly acoustic encoding, while long-term memory is effectively unlimited, long-lasting and mainly semantic. Chunking increases how much short-term memory can hold.

The multi-store model and reconstructive memory

Two models explain memory differently. The multi-store model (Atkinson and Shiffrin) describes a flow through the sensory register, short-term memory and long-term memory, driven by attention and rehearsal. Reconstructive memory (Bartlett) says memory is actively rebuilt using schemas, which causes distortion and explains unreliable eyewitness testimony. The two are not rivals: the multi-store model describes the structure, while reconstruction describes how recall can change.

Amnesia and the core studies

Amnesia reveals memory's structure: retrograde amnesia loses old memories, while anterograde amnesia prevents new long-term memories, supporting separate stores. The two core studies anchor the topic: Bartlett (1932) showed reconstruction with War of the Ghosts, and Peterson and Peterson (1959) showed short-term memory duration with trigrams. The reductionism-holism debate contrasts Peterson's tightly controlled, narrow focus with Bartlett's whole, meaningful material.

How Topic 2 is examined

A typical Edexcel profile for Topic 2:

Multiple choice and short answer. Defining encoding, stating the capacity of short-term memory, or classifying amnesia.
Describe questions. The multi-store model, or the method of Peterson and Peterson.
Explain questions. Two differences between short-term and long-term memory, or how schemas distort recall.
Extended response and maths. Evaluating the multi-store model, and calculating from recall data (for example a percentage decrease in recalled details).

Check your knowledge

A mix of recall and applied questions covering Topic 2. Attempt them under timed conditions, then check against the solutions.

Describe the three processes involved in memory. (3 marks)
Explain two differences between short-term and long-term memory. (4 marks)
Describe the multi-store model of memory. (4 marks)
Explain how the primacy-recency effect supports the multi-store model. (4 marks)
Describe the theory of reconstructive memory. (3 marks)
Explain the difference between retrograde and anterograde amnesia. (2 marks)
Describe the method and findings of Peterson and Peterson (1959). (4 marks)

Solutions

Q1: Encoding (changing information into a storable form), storage (holding it over time) and retrieval (recovering it when needed, by recall or recognition).
Q2: Capacity: short-term memory holds about seven items; long-term memory is unlimited. Duration: short-term memory lasts about 18 to 30 seconds; long-term memory can last a lifetime. (Encoding also differs: acoustic versus semantic.)
Q3: Information enters the sensory register; with attention it passes to short-term memory; with rehearsal it transfers to long-term memory; it is retrieved back to short-term memory when needed, and unattended or unrehearsed information is lost.
Q4: The first words are recalled well because they were rehearsed into long-term memory (primacy); the last words are recalled well because they are still in short-term memory (recency); the middle words are lost, supporting separate stores.
Q5: Memory is actively rebuilt using schemas to fill gaps, so recall is distorted by omission, transformation and addition of detail, rather than being an exact copy.
Q6: Retrograde amnesia is the loss of memories formed before the damage; anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new long-term memories after the damage.
Q7: Participants saw a nonsense trigram, then counted backwards to prevent rehearsal, and recalled it after different intervals. Recall fell to about 10 percent by 18 seconds, showing short-term memory lasts around 18 seconds without rehearsal.

Sources & how we know this

Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Psychology (1PS0) specification — Pearson Edexcel (2017)