Levels of processing

1
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• An alternative to the multistore model
• Emphasises memory process rather than structure
• Based on the idea that the strength of a memory
  trace is determined by how the original info was
  processed

2
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk
3
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Incoming stimuli pass through a series of
  analysing mechanisms
• Memory traces are a product of how stimuli are
  analysed
• Strength of trace depends on
• Attention paid to stimulus
• Depth of processing carried out
• Connections with existing knowledge

4
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Different levels of processing
• Structural appearance
• Phonological auditory/sound
• Semantic meaning
• Structural is the shallowest, semantic is the
  deepest

5
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• The basic prediction of the LOP approach is that
  the amount of info pps will recall/recognise will
  depend on how deeply the experimental stimuli
  were processed

6
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Elias Perfetti (1973)
• PPs had greater recognition of words they had
  thought of similes for (semantic) than word they
  had thought of rhymes for (phono)
• Craik Tulving (1975)
• Highest recognition of semantically processes
  stimuli, followed by phono, followed by structural

7
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Morris et al (1977)
• Semantic processing was not always best it
  depended on how recall was measured
• Recognition semantic best
• Rhyming recognition phono best

8
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Influential model that focused researchers on
  processes that they had tended to neglect
• The idea that the nature of a memory trace
  depends on encoding processes is well supported

9
Levels of processing
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• Many different variables involved in determining
  how a stimulus is processed
• Depth
• Spread
• Elaboration
• Distinctiveness
• Very difficult to isolate these variables
  experimentally

10
LOP and revision
www.psychlotron.org.uk

• You will recall more if you use
• Depth make sure you understand make
  connections between the topics ideas
• Spread use several different techniques on the
  material
• Elaboration mental effort is required to store
  material effectively
• Distinctiveness make the material your own