Psych Writing #10: Memory

When studying for an upcoming psychology exam, many processes are required in order for someone to remember the information from either the textbook or from lecture notes. Many strategies are required for a person to do well including proper encoding, rehearsal, and long-term retrieval. In order to remember information someone must go through the Information Processing Theory.

The first step in the Information Processing Theory is encoding. Encoding is the process of getting information into someone’s memory. In order to encode something someone must attend to it, meaning that they pay attention to the detail that is actually happening. In regards to the student, they must attend to the textbook information in order to move it from their short-term memory into their working memory.

The next step the student must take is rehearsing information. Rehearsing can include using mnemonic devices that helps us recall information through patterns. Also, the pegword method and the method of loci are types of mnemonic devices that help recall information through rhyming or relying on imagery of locations.

The last step to information processing is the ability to retrieve the information from the student’s long-term memory and be able to answer the questions on the exam correctly. We often use retrieval cues in order to be able to recall information. Using these cues like certain words or category names can provide the student with the cues needed for them to remember the information.

A strategy that could be used in order to improve memory when studying for an exam is using mnemonics devices. When learning a challenging concept, a mnemonic device can be used to help encode memories in a way that makes them easier to recall. Mnemonics involved associating concepts with individual letters to remember them. They are very helpful mental shortcut when taking an exam because it helps recall lists of information that the student already learned.

In order to effectively study...