3A. Memory: Encoding and Retrieval

Encoding

Turning short-term memory into long term memory.

Effortful processing

Mental activity that requires control and effort.

Automatic processing

Mental activity that doesn’t require effort or intention.

Deep processing

Paying attention and giving personal meaning

Shallow processing

Not paying attention or giving personal meaning

Rehearsal

Repeating or practicing something.

[list] “Effect” influences on encoding

• Spacing effect

• Serial position effect

  • Primacy effect

  • Latency effect

Spacing effect

Spacing out sessions encodes better.

Serial position effect

The first and last items in a group are easiest to remember.

Primacy effect

The first things are easier to remember.

Latency effect

The last things are easier to remember.

[list] Encoding methods

• Mnemonics

• Loci method

• Chunking

• Mental imagery

• Link Method

• Keyword method

MLCMLK

Mnemonics

Devices that assist in learning (rhymes, acronyms, jingles).

Loci method

Creating “mind areas” to store information.

Chunking

Grouping similar information into easily manageable chunks.

Mental imagery

Using mental images to explain something

Link method

Linking information to a story.

Keyword method

Using images to identify a definition.

[list] Forms of retrieval

• Recall

• Recognition

• Relearning

Recall

Retrieving information given stimulus.

Recognition

Familiarity from encountering people, events, or objects that have been encountered before.

Relearning

Reintegrating previously learned information.

Faster the second time.

Retrieval cues

Context clues that help pull information from memories.

Mood congruency

“Emotive” memories match the emotion experienced

Encoding specificity principle

People are more likely to remember information when encoding in the context where we first learned it (or a context similar to it).