Levels of Processing: Semantic Processing and the Recall of False Memory
Levels of Processing: Semantic Processing and the Recall of False Memory
Word Count: 1087
Abstract
Research was carried out to determine the effects of structural and semantic processing on a group of university students using a Levels of Processing experiment. It was hypothesised that when words are processed semantically, recall of a false memory is less likely to occur. 196 first year psychology students took part in the Levels of Processing experiment during their tutorials. The written experiment took 2 minutes and consisted of 3 different parts. Results indicated that there were significantly more semantically than structurally processed words recalled. A limitation of this study was there was the limited sample size making it difficult to make generalisations to a greater population. Although there is strong research to suggest that there is a decrease in the recall of false memory when information is processed semantically, further research is needed to confirm different levels of processing and the likelihood of a false memory being recalled.
Levels of Processing: Semantic Processing Reduce and the Recall of False Memory There are three ways in which information can be processed, these are put into two categories; shallow processing and deep processing. Shallow processing takes place in two forms, structural, where only the physical qualities of something are encoded, and phonemic, when sound is encoded. Deep processing, known as semantic processing happens when the meaning of a word is encoded and related to similar words with a similar meaning. Semantic processing leads to a better retention on typical recall and recognition tests because these tests happen to be mostly sensitive to the retrieval of semantic conceptual information (Roediger, Weldon & Challis, 1989). False memory is an apparent recollection of an event, which did not actually occur. Hunt, Smith and Dunlap (2011) found
Word Count: 1087
Abstract
Research was carried out to determine the effects of structural and semantic processing on a group of university students using a Levels of Processing experiment. It was hypothesised that when words are processed semantically, recall of a false memory is less likely to occur. 196 first year psychology students took part in the Levels of Processing experiment during their tutorials. The written experiment took 2 minutes and consisted of 3 different parts. Results indicated that there were significantly more semantically than structurally processed words recalled. A limitation of this study was there was the limited sample size making it difficult to make generalisations to a greater population. Although there is strong research to suggest that there is a decrease in the recall of false memory when information is processed semantically, further research is needed to confirm different levels of processing and the likelihood of a false memory being recalled.
Levels of Processing: Semantic Processing Reduce and the Recall of False Memory There are three ways in which information can be processed, these are put into two categories; shallow processing and deep processing. Shallow processing takes place in two forms, structural, where only the physical qualities of something are encoded, and phonemic, when sound is encoded. Deep processing, known as semantic processing happens when the meaning of a word is encoded and related to similar words with a similar meaning. Semantic processing leads to a better retention on typical recall and recognition tests because these tests happen to be mostly sensitive to the retrieval of semantic conceptual information (Roediger, Weldon & Challis, 1989). False memory is an apparent recollection of an event, which did not actually occur. Hunt, Smith and Dunlap (2011) found