Factors That Affect Learning and Memory

Factors That Affect Learning and Memory

1. Levels of Processing by Craik and Lockhart (1972): The duo suggested the depth of mental processing affected memory function. The way information is processed during learning is critical in determining how long that information will be stored. Therefore memories that had been deeply processed lasted for a lengthier period of time than compared to shallow levels of analysis.

   • Three types of processing: 1) Shallow graphemic, is the word upper or lower case, 2) Intermediate Phonemic, does the word rhyme? and 3) Deep semantic, is the word significant
   • Information that has been processed via shallow processing results in short term retention as the information has not been processed deeply enough
   • Deep processing produces strongest, persistent memory.

2. Atkinson and Shiffrin (1968)

   • Two types of rehearsal: elaborative and maintenance
     • 1. Maintenance = low level, shallow rehearsal
     • 2. Elaborative= comprehension of meaning. improves encoding to LTM because connections formed between new and old information. Involves active attention to meaning

3. Distraction

   • Susceptibility greater for task-salient stimuli . Not Greater when low perceptual load (because spare capacity). Greater when high cognitive load (because executive control needed to maintain distinction between target and distractor

4. Memory capacity

   • George Sperling in the early 1960s involving the flashing of a grid of letters for a very short period of time (50 milliseconds) suggest that the upper limit of sensory memory (as distinct from short-term memory) is approximately 12 items

5. Perceptual Load