An account of performance in accessing information stored in long-term memory. A fixed-links model approach

Performance in working memory and short-term memory tasks was employed for predicting performance in a long-term memory task in order to find out about the underlying processes. The types of memory were represented by versions of the Posner Task, the Backward Counting Task and the Sternberg Task serving as measures of long-term memory, working memory and short-term memory respectively. The study was based on a sample of 209 students. A confirmatory factor model with theory-based fixed loadings on two latent variables for representing core and auxiliary processes was selected for investigating the data. As expected the core processes of working memory showed substantial predictive value for the core processes of long-term memory while (more surprisingly) the auxiliary processes of short- and long-term memories showed a strong relation.

► Working memory is a better predictor of long-term memory than short-term memory.
► Memory-tasks target core and auxiliary processes (impurity problem).
► Using a fixed-links approach improves the modeling of memory-structure.