Final answer:
Short-term memory is a component of working memory that temporarily holds information, whereas working memory involves active processing of information across different components, governed by a central executive.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Short-Term Memory and Working Memory
Short-term memory (STM) is often confused with working memory, but they serve different functions. Short-term memory is akin to a temporary storage system, holding information for approximately 15 to 30 seconds. This can be visualized as having information displayed on your computer screen before it's either saved to your hard drive (long-term memory) or it's deleted/closed (forgotten).
Working memory, on the other hand, involves the active processing and manipulation of information. This is governed by Baddeley and Hitch's model, which suggests that working memory is not a single store but comprises several different components. These components include the visuospatial sketchpad, handling visual and spatial information; the episodic buffer, integrating information across various sensory inputs; and the phonological loop, dealing with spoken and written material. Central to this model is the central executive, which directs attention and coordinates the interaction of these components with long-term memory.
Essentially working memory allows us to keep information temporarily while we perform cognitive tasks, much like opening and editing different files simultaneously on a computer. This insight is pivotal to understanding how our memory processes and manages information.