COG - Encoding Lesson

Learning Target:

  • Outline the principles that underlie the construction and encoding of memories. 

AP psychology course and exam description, effective fall 2020. (n.d.). https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ap-psychology-course-and-exam-description.pdf

The Phenomenon of Memory - Encoding

Think of memory as a file cabinet in your mind. You must first engage with added information, determine whether it is important enough to put into a file, then determine its place within the file cabinet. Later if you would like to revisit that information you will go back to your file cabinet and remove the file from where you placed it. The process of making memories is a lot like filing away information into a file cabinet.

Memory enables us to acquire, retain and retrieve information. Our memory capacity is most apparent when recalling unique and highly emotional information. Memory is a three-step process:

Three Step Process: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval

Encoding is the process of getting information into one's memory system. The information must be processed or transformed into a form that can be entered into the memory system. Some examples may include memorizing a vocabulary term, a new friend's name, or typing information into your computer. There are two ways to encode information: automatic and effortful processing. Automatic processing is easy to encode with no real thinking involved, while effortful processing requires you to think and engage with the information.

Ways We Can Encode:

  • Visual Encoding - Encoding of pictures or images
  • Semantic Encoding - Encoding meaning
  • Acoustic Encoding - Encoding sound

Once the information has been encoded, it must then be stored. Storage is the retaining of information for a later date. When you meet a new friend, you are trying to remember their name on your way home or when you save information on your computer.

The last step in this three-step process is retrieval. This is the process of getting the information out of memory storage. It is brought back to our conscious awareness. Some examples include finding a file in your computer's hard drive or seeing someone after a long time and remembering their name.

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