Question

How might you use your knowledge on retrieval cues, recognition vs.recall, and levels of processing to study more effectively for college courses?

Answer 1

To understand how to use knowlege on retrieval cues to study more effectively for college courses, let us know what are retrieval cues. When the students study, the studied information should be encoded and stored in the long term memory and then the stored information should be retrived from memory for further use at the time of examination. Retrieval is nothing but recollecting or reusing the information that is stored in memory and the cues that are present at the time of retrieval help us to retrieve information very precisely and accurately. For example, if you are introduced to a stranger in a party, it is very easy to recall the stranger name when you saw the stranger again in the similar situation or with the person who introduced you to him. It means you are using context dependent retrieval. Otherwise it is easy for you to recall when you were in the same mood as when you first met that stanger, it means you are using state-dependent retrieval.

So according to context dependent retrieval it is possible for the student to retrieve information better when it occurs in the same situation in which the student studied the course material, so it is suggestable to study under situation similar to the situation in which the student takes the exam. According to state dependent retrieval it is suggestible not use alcohol or drugs while studying which are not recommended to use in the examination hall.

Recognition and recall are two types of retrieval. recognition is the ability t recognize previous encountered events, objects or people. Recognition can be subdivided into two processes, they are recollection and familiarity. Familiarity is the feeling that the event is previously experienced without recollection. Recollection is a slow, controlled search process where as familiarity is a fast, automatic process. sometimes the feelings of familiarity don't guarantee a correct recall.

so it is suggestible always study for recall instead of recognition so that you can avoid other options that mislead you and you are able to choose the correct answer.

Levels of processing theory says that if you process the information at deep level you can remmeber it better. so instead of rote memorizing or reharsal use elaborative reharsal that is associate and organize the information in a meaningful way and process the information in a deep level.