Relational and item-specific processing

Relational and item-specific processing

1. Eysenck and Eysenck 1980

   • Distinctive processing benefits memory
   • Manipulated distinctive processing independently of levels of processing. Participants processed words in 4 scenarios
     • Phonetic/distinctive
     • Phonetic/non-distinctive
     • Semantic/distinctive
     • Semantic/non-distinctive

2. Hunt and McDaniel 1993

   • Suggested this is due to 2 different types of processing involved
   • Relational: working out how item representation is connected to others
     • Mandler termed this elaboration. Results from semantic processing
   • Item-specific: focusing on representation for specific item
     • Mandler termed this integration. Results from maintenance rehearsal