Mnemonology: Mnemonics for the 21st Century (Essays in Cognitive Psychology)
Language: English
Pages: 174
ISBN: 1138871788
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
This book bridges the gap between basic memory research and mnemonic applications through a careful analysis of the processes that underlie effective memory aids. The book traces the history of mnemonics, examines popular techniques, and discusses the current relevance of mnemonics to both psychological researchers and those seeking to improve their memory. Using a unique approach (termed "mnemonology"), the authors seek not necessarily to promote specific mnemonic techniques, but to provide information which will allow one to improve memory by creating their own mnemonics.
successfully enhance free recall, a mnemonic must include procedures that strengthen each of these processes. However, as will be discussed in Chapter 3, any procedure that affects encoding will also influence retrieval. So, a mnemonic need not include separate procedures for each of the fundamental processes. On the other hand, it should be noted that purely organizational mnemonics (e.g., schema and category organizational schemes) are likely to result in a high number of recall intrusions.
imagery when cued recall is tested. However, research has shown that this effect is moderated by the length of retention interval. Specifically, O’Brien and Wolford (1982) found that although there were no significant differences between imagery types after a short delay, bizarre imagery led to significantly better cued recall performance than common imagery after a 1-week retention interval. As the example of bizarre imagery demonstrates, numerous situational factors determine the effectiveness
memory strategies targeted to particular disabilities, which are used to support either learning of new information or memory for particular activities. The second technique is the use of external mnemonic aids. A wide range of options is available to be employed here, spanning the dimension of technological sophistication. □ Mnemonic Techniques for Impaired Memory The approaches to treatment outlined above vary in their targeted goals from repairing impaired memory processes to compensating
performance with mnemonics. We hope that our efforts in this book not only invigorate mnemonology but also encourage individuals to use mnemonics and help them do so. NOTES Thorndike studied with James as a graduate student at Harvard prior to transferring to Columbia where he completed his degree with Cattell (Boring, 1950). See Tulving (1983) for a differing view of the recognition process. As will be discussed later, the concept of storage is not necessary from the theoretical perspective
argument is that the success of Ebbinghaus’s research changed the question from one of how to learn more efficiently to one of how learning occurs. That change effectively replaced mnemonics with repetition and ushered in the era of rote drill in education. The second influence from psychology that accelerated the demise of mnemonics was the behaviorist manifesto of John Watson (1914). The motivating rationale of behaviorism was that mental concepts should play no role in the scientific analysis