Levels Of Processing

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Describe and discuss the levels of processing model of memory. Explain how this model could be applied to the task of preparing for an examination (10 marks) The levels of processing model of memory suggests there are three different levels, each relating to a different depth of processing. The structural/shallow processing level says that we can understand something without paying much attention to it I.e was the word in capital letters? The phonetic level relates to a higher depth of processing where an individual has to judge whether a word relates to another I.e does this word rhyme with book? Lastly, an even deeper level of processing, known as the deep/semantic level, states that we check words for meaning. In basic terms, if we process an item via semantic processing, we are more likely to remember it as it has been given meaning. This can be tested by asking somebody what they remember from last year. They are more likely to remember a holiday or a big event rather than a random event. The levels of processing also describe two types of rehearsal in its theory; maintenance rehearsal and elaborative rehearsal. Whilst maintenance rehearsal involves simple repetition, elaborative rehearsal involves deep semantic processing and therefore leads to durable memories. Craik and Tulvig tested the levels of processing model by asking participants to recall words from a list. It was found that participants had better recall of words that had been processed more deeply. A strength of this model is that it has empirical evidence, which makes the theory valid. In addition, the model has face validity - we are more likely to remember things that have meaning then random things I.e we remember a television programme, but not necessarily what we had for dinner two weeks before. However, the model itself is quite reductionist and simplistic. As complex beings, it states
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