Once information is stored there also needs to be a process to retrieve this information and this is done in 3 different ways we will focus on:

And the way the information is organised within the stores.ĭependent on the explanation of memory for which we are focusing on, this will vary between theories.The storage of information focuses on 3 things: As you visualise them you may begin to ask yourself what their names are as you dig deeper like this trying to decipher the meanings behind the pictures you see in your mind, this is semantic encoding. To think about this you may involve some visual processing as you picture them together but you will need to think about what the word spouse means to decipher its his partner, then you may ask yourself how many children he has and this may involve some visualisation. Name David Beckhams spouse and all his children. Semantic encoding refers to encoding something through its meaning. An example of how information is encoded visually is think about how big your garden is? – If you are picturing your garden in your mind right now trying to answer this, this is an example of visual encoding. Visual encoding is when we process information visually in the form of a picture in our mind. An example of this is when we are given a mobile number to remember we repeat it to ourselves to maintain the memory acoustically until we get a pen to write it down. Acoustic EncodingĪcoustic encoding is holding information in your memory in the form of sound.

Psychologists focus on acoustic encoding (sound), visual encoding (picture) and semantic encoding (meaning). EncodingĮncoding is the processing of information in some form into memory. The three types of retrieval systems used by memory are recall, recognition and re-learning. Focus is on the amount of information stored (capacity), the length of time it is stored (duration) and the way information is stored (acoustic, visual or semantic). Three forms of encoding are used which are acoustic, visual and semantic. Memory is defined as the encoding, storage and the retrieval of stored information once needed.

Define acoustic encoding in psychology