March 23, 2013

Remembering and Forgetting



Do you have a good memory? Are you good in recalling details?

Well, each of us may have our own capability, or should I say, level of capability in recalling things. We may say that some people naturally have strong memory recall while other s may have very weak ones.

So, how do we remember things? How do we remember and why do we forget some?
Theories of Forgetting:

There are many theories of forgetting and various classifications of the theories. Yet, for ease in “remembering” these information, let’s just have the basic ones.

1. Availability theories 
This theory states that memories are forgotten because they have been permanently lost from the brain. This is mainly used to explain forgetting in short term memory. (e. g. trace decay theory)

2. Accessibility theories 
This theory on the other hand states that memories still exist but are difficult to retrieve. This is mainly used to explain forgetting in long term memory (e.g. cue –dependency theory)

On Remembering
Our recall of any memory may depend on a number of factors. One good illustration on some factors can be presented in the “serial position curve”. This states the relation between the serial position of an item (its place in the list) and the ability to recall it.

This curve presents:

1. The Primacy Effect, which entails that items near the beginning of the list are easier to recall than those in the middle; and
2.The Recency Effect which says that those near the end of the list are also easier to recall than those in the middle.



The normal serial position curve shows that items in the middle of a list are the most difficult to commit to memory. However, this disadvantage can be reduced or eliminated by making the item distinctive, so that it stands out from the other middle-list items. For example, the item could be printed in red when the rest of the items are printed in black. The contrasting color draws attention to the item, and it receives more processing.

How Quickly Do We Forget?
According to Ebbinghaus, the level at which we retain information depends on a couple of things: (1.) The strength of your memory; (2.) The amount of time that has passed since learning

How Can We Retain More?

1. Repetition
Repetition is easy enough and it is the more frequently we repeat something, the more likely it is to stick. Usually, reviewing at regular intervals does increase retention and that over time. Frequent review can help retention, but over time, we still tend to forget what we’ve learned.  This is why reviewing and cramming for exams can provide dividends in the short term.

2. Quality of memory representation
A better approach for long term retention is to focus on the quality of the information represented in memory and the meaning of the information to you. The more relevant, meaningful connections you can make with the new information in your mind with things you already know, the better your memory retention over time.  If you learn something, and it is important to you, and you can connect it with many things you already know, your memory retention will be very high. If you learn something, and it is not important to you, and you do not connect it with anything you already know, you will have poor retention and require regular repetition.


References:
http://www.simplypsychology.org

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