Question

A researcher gives participants a list of words referring to concrete objects (e.g., car, apple, box). She tells the first group of participants to form a vivid mental image of each object. She tells the second group to think of where each item would be keep in their home. Both groups then complete a memory test. What concept is the researcher most likely testing with the second group of participants? Semantic encoding Visual encoding Acoustic encoding Simultaneous encoding

Answer 1

The correct answer on the quiz is Semantic encoding.

Answer 2

The correct answer is: "semantic encoding".

In general, encoding techniques are applied in order to elaborate on the information perceived by our senses, seeking to appropiately store it in our longer lasting memory units and to optimize subsequent retrieval.

Semantic encoding consists on relating certain concepts to a context in order to remember them better afterwards, using mechanisms such as chunking or mnemonics. This is the case in the research described where, in order to remember a list of objects, participants connect them to a house context.