Encoding, Storage & Retrieval (AQA GCSE Psychology)

Encoding

• Encoding is the process by which an environmental cue (stimulus) is interpreted by one of the five senses (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste)

• A memory trace is created when specific stimuli are encountered, for example:

  • The sight and scent of a rose

  • The opening bars of a familiar song

  • The texture of velvet or silk on bare skin

• Visual encoding involves the following:

  • An image is detected or observed

  • The image consists of colour/shape/pattern etc.

  • The mind converts this visual image to a form which can be understood e.g. a cat, a football, a rocket

• Acoustic encoding involves the following:

  • A sound is detected/heard

  • The sound consists of words/tone/volume etc.

  • The mind converts this acoustic sound to a form which can be understood e.g. laughter, birdsong, a violin

• Semantic encoding involves the following:

  • Meaning is derived from a stimulus

  • Semantic encoding can include knowing the meaning of words, concepts, ideas, definitions, dates etc.

  • If someone has the word ‘umbrella’ in their vocabulary and they know the meaning of it, they can use it intelligibly in a sentence

  • If someone has the word ‘umbrella’ in their vocabulary but they do not know the meaning of it, they are not able to use it intelligibly in a sentence

• Elaborative encoding involves relating new information to existing knowledge i.e. memory depends on linking old and new information e.g. revising for an exam

Storage

• Storage refers to where information is held and kept in the memory after it has been encoded

• Some information may be stored in short-term memory where it has a duration of 15-30 seconds

• If information is rehearsed then it will pass to long-term memory where it will be stored for a very long time 

Retrieval (output)

• Retrieval refers to the recovery of stored information

• A memory can be retrieved if it is either (or both) accessible and available, for example:

  • Tracy recalls that Bangkok is the capital of Thailand

    • The memory for this fact is accessible as it is easy for Tracy to recall i.e. she doesn’t have to try very hard

    • The memory of Bangkok is available to Tracy as she recently watched a TV programme in which people travelled to Thailand

  • If information is neither accessible nor available then it cannot be retrieved from memory

• Retrieval may occur in the following ways:

  • Cued recall: it is only possible to remember something when there is a prompt (cue) to remind you e.g. ‘That actor, what is his name?... Ah yes, he used to be married to Ceecee Celeb’

  • Recognition: information is presented and you can identify what you recall from what is there in front of you e.g. seeing a picture of Ceecee Celeb you immediately recognise her and then recall that she was married to an actor

  • Free recall: you can retrieve information without cues, from ‘the top of your head’ e.g. ‘Someone just asked me the name of that actor in Westenders: it’s Eddy Ego!’