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6 (a) Using an example, describe what is meant by semantic memory as proposed by Tulving (1972) - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Question 6
6 (a) Using an example, describe what is meant by semantic memory as proposed by Tulving (1972). (b) Explain one strength of Tulving’s (1972) explanation of long-te... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6 (a) Using an example, describe what is meant by semantic memory as proposed by Tulving (1972) - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 6 - 2020 - Paper 1
Step 1
Using an example, describe what is meant by semantic memory as proposed by Tulving (1972)
Answer
Semantic memory, as proposed by Tulving (1972), refers to a type of long-term memory that is responsible for storing factual information and knowledge about the world. For example, knowing that Paris is the capital city of France illustrates semantic memory because it is a fact that can be recalled independently of personal experience.
Step 2
Explain one strength of Tulving’s (1972) explanation of long-term memory
Answer
One strength of Tulving’s explanation is that there is supporting evidence indicating that long-term memory (LTM) comprises distinct stores for different types of memories. For instance, research by Ostergard (1987) highlighted a case where a boy sustained damage to his episodic memories but was still able to make academic progress, demonstrating that semantic memories operate separately from episodic memories.