Levels of Processing

Levels of Processing

1. Explanation

   • Developed by Craik and Lockhart 1972
     • Whether we can remember information is dependent on the way that we process the information
       • Proposed that we process info at different levels, with depth leading to best memory
   • Semantic processing: Thinking about meaning of word
     • Phonetic processing: Thinking about way something sounds
       • Structural processing: Looking at physical characteristics of word
   • Way of remembering
     • A deep pan pizza fills you up for longer than a thin crust, but takes longer to digest, just like deep processing makes a longer lasting memory

2. Craik and Tulving (1975)

   • A
     • See if level at which information processed has an effect on person's memory
   • M
     • Told pps study was to test spped of reaction and perception. Presented with a word quickly and asked a question about word. Three ways of testing levels of processing concept
       • See above
   • R
     • More words recalled if pps had to think about meaning rather than appearance
   • C
     • More deeply material processed, more likely you are to remember
   • ✓
     • Repeated measures (avoids pps variables)
   • X
     • Lacks internal validity (was depth of processing measure or the length of time a stimulus is presented)

3. Evaluation

   • X
     • LoP does not explain why processing deeply leads to better memory. It could be that it is just more time consuming or takes more effort rather than being processed deeply
   • X
     • Research into LoP lacks ecological validity. This is because it often uses word lists that do not mean anything to pps, which is not what we normally try and remember in everyday life

4. Practical applications

   • Improving revision for exams
   • Instead of just reading something repeatedly, student could write info in own words
     • Requires semantic encoding and therefore deeper processing which leads to better memory

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