Depth of Processing and the Retention of Words in Episodic Memory - Article Example

Depth of Processing and the Retention of Words in Episodic Memory Goal of the article The main goal of this article is the expression of a research that aimed at designing experiments to be used in the exploration of the processing framework levels of the human memory. Thus, the study pursued to define the depth of the processing and retention of words in the episodic memory. In this context, the hypothesis of the study was to show that the basic notions of the processing framework were that the traces of episodic memory were an automatic operational by-product resulting from the cognitive systems. Subsequently, the questions that lead to positive responses are associated higher levels of retention than those leading to negative responses at the deeper encoding levels (Craik & Tulving, 1975). In the experiments, the durability of the trace is perceived as a positive functional relationship in which the ‘depth’ implied greater semantic involvement degrees. To be able to fully conceptualize these aspects, the study engaged the use of the congruity principle in which the necessity for the complete description of the same is noted in the obtainment of the effects of encoding. The performance of memory is also shown as one that could be enhanced to the extent in which its context or encoding question is used to form an integrated unit with the presented word. Thus, the study shows the implications of memory encoding by providing ideas about the human memory and learning. Cognitive psychology terms a. Principle of congruity: This refers to the special case of balance theory that considers the change in attitudes when an individual is exposed to persuasive communication. As a psychological mechanism, the principle takes into account the initial attitude to a message source, the concept under evaluation by the source as well as the form of the evaluative contention. In the study’s perspective, the term shows the effects of the retention of words in the episodic memory thus, affecting the depth of processing the same. The principle shows that the performance of one’s memory can be enhanced to the extent in which an integrated unit is formed with the word being processed but, to the extent of the encoding question or context. b. Memory encoding: In cognitive psychology, the term refers to process by which information, when received into the memory system, from the sensory system is changed into a form easy to cope with. This encoding process may be achieved through three main ways; visual, sound and semantic. The term enhances the recall process for the words that were subjected to the test in the determination of the depth of processing the information (Craik & Tulving, 1975). The determination of the episodic memory is based on the encoding process and the cues of the word developed to be used in the recognition. c. Episodic memory: Refers to a uniquely different neurocognitive system of the brain and mind that enables the remembrance of past experiences based on the memory span, memory trace and the memory span. It also involves the long term memory to recollect the specific past events or experiences. In the study, the term forms the core context in that it is used to show the processing depth that can be applied in the retention and recall of the long term memory already stored. This becomes possible through the understanding of the encoding process and the engagement of tasks and auto noetic consciousness. Description of dependent variables The episodic memory is the dependent variable in this study. The study’s basic notion is that the trace of the episodic memory is an automatic by-product that results from the operations of the cognitive system. As such, this variable is largely affected by the durability of the trace which is a positive function that has resulted from the processing depth. Operationally, the variable’s basic meaning would be to refer to the neurocognitive system of the brain that allows for the remembrance of the past experiences. This variable was measured through the determination of the encoding times of the differential. Those deeper encodings that took longer to establish were associated with performance levels (Craik & Tulving, 1975). Description of the independent variables The study has two independent variables; the depth of processing, which as a variable will be used to determine the encoding process of the brain so as to allow for the recall of memory that had already been stored in the brain, being the first. This variable was studied hand in hand by the conducting of recognition or recall tests for the words. The measurement of this variable entailed the determination of the semantic involvement degrees. The second variable is the retention of words, which basically was determined by exploring the reasons for the superior retention of words by finding positive and negative responses to the initial task (Craik & Tulving, 1975). This was based on the elaboration or spread of the encoding that was used to describe the results. The statistical tests used to determine the variables were an F-test in order to determine the significance levels. Description of the experiment Generally, the experiment involved the individual testing of the subjects based on the speed and perception of reaction. The whole study involved time series analysis since the trials were each based on the tachistoscope for approximately 200msecs. In conducting the experiment, the subjects were given a series of questions and answer trials so as to determine their retention tests in them (Craik & Tulving, 1975). The memory performance was expected to systematically vary with the processing depth. After the trials, median latencies were calculated for all subjects and the scores were thereafter subjected to analysis of variance after the transformation of the logs. In experiment 2, the levels of encoding involved three levels; questions about the typescript, sentence questions and the rhyme questions. Main effects and interaction Generally, the F-test results indicate that the significance effect level was F (4, 171) = 35.4, p Read More