Levels of processing model of memory (Craik & Lockheart)

• • In 1972 Craik and Lockheart proposed a ‘conceptual framework of memory’ that emphasised the importance of the level at which the new information is processed
• About:

  ·       Craik and Lockheart’s levels of processing framework proposes that the level or depth at which we process information during learning determines how well it is stored in the LTM.

  ·       According to Craik and Lockheart, memories are best encoded, organised, and stored in LTM by meaning (or semantically). If meaning is processed during learning, then LTM will be better than if meaning is not processed.
• About:

  ·       However, processing meaning occurs on a continuum of levels of processing ranging from shallow to deep processing, with levels of processing in between.

  ·       Information will be retained only briefly if it is processed at a shallow level but will be retained much longer if processed at a deeper level.

  ·       This is why elaborative rehearsal (involves a deep level of processing because there is so much focus on assigning meaning to the information) is so much more effective than maintenance rehearsal (Re-learning)
• ·       According to Craik & Lockheart, attending only to the superficial details of what you are learning and remembering involves only shallow processing. The more meaning you give to the information, the deeper the level of processing.

  ·       considerable research evidence indicates that LTM is better when we process new information semantically, or meaningfully, as opposed to attending to its more superficial physical features
• 1. Shallow level- involves structural and phonemic processing a) Structural processing (appearance) is when we encode only the physical qualities of something. E.g. the typeface of a word or how the letters look

  b) Phonemic processing- which is when we encode its sound

  Shallow processing only involves maintenance rehearsal, leads to short term retention
• 2. Deep level

  Involves semantic and elaborative processing

  Semantic processing happens when we encode the meaning of a word and relate it to similar words with similar meanings.

  Deep processing involves elaborative rehearsal which involves a more meaningful analysis (E.g. images, thinking, associations, etc.) of information and leads to better recall