How does elaborative rehearsal aid in long-term memory retention?

Elaborative rehearsal aids in long-term memory retention by linking new information to existing knowledge in meaningful ways.

Elaborative rehearsal is a memory technique that involves thinking about the meaning of the new information and its relation to knowledge already stored in your memory. This process goes beyond mere repetition or maintenance rehearsal, which involves simply repeating the information to keep it in short-term memory. Elaborative rehearsal, on the other hand, involves a more significant cognitive effort and is therefore more effective in transferring information from short-term to long-term memory.

The effectiveness of elaborative rehearsal in aiding long-term memory retention can be explained by the Levels of Processing model proposed by Craik and Lockhart (1972). According to this model, the deeper and more meaningful the level of processing, the better the information is remembered. Elaborative rehearsal involves deep processing of the information, which includes semantic processing (understanding the meaning of the information) and relational processing (connecting the new information to existing knowledge). This deep processing results in more durable and accessible memory traces.

Moreover, elaborative rehearsal often involves the use of mnemonic devices, such as creating mental images, making associations, or creating acronyms. These techniques make the information more distinctive and organised, which further enhances its retrievability from long-term memory.

Research evidence supports the effectiveness of elaborative rehearsal in enhancing long-term memory retention. For instance, a study by Bower and Winzenz (1970) found that participants who used mental imagery (a form of elaborative rehearsal) to link pairs of words remembered significantly more word pairs than those who simply repeated the words.

In conclusion, elaborative rehearsal aids in long-term memory retention by making the information more meaningful and connected to existing knowledge, which enhances its depth of processing and retrievability. This technique is particularly useful for learning complex information, such as the material covered in IB Psychology.