Encoding 

What is Encoding?

Encoding means the processing of information into the memory system. An example would be taking the meaning of a word. Through encoding there are types of processing by which they turn into different memories. The first type of processing is effortful processing which is the cause of explicit memories. Then there is automatic processing which results into implicit memories. Now that you have an overall background of these terms, lets dig deep into them. 

Effortful Processing & Explicit Memories

Effortful processing is when encoding information actually requires attention and a conscious effort. An example of effortful processing is learning how to read, it was never an automatic process to read. We had to learn the letters and the sound of each letter. then we had to learn how to put those letters to make words and sentences. Memories of facts and experiences that we can consciously know is called explicit memories. 

There are different effortful processing strategies that can help us remember new information. This would include:

1. Chunking: organizing items into familiar, manageable units -- usually occurs automatically 
2. Mnemonics: memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational devices 
3. Hierarchies: composed in a few broad concepts divided and subdivided into narrow concepts and facts 
4. Spacing Effect: the tendency for distributed study or practice to yield better long-term memory -- much more effective then cramming a lot of information in one night 

These are all types of study practices that you can use for future tests and quizzes. Chunking can help you with studying a long list of vocabulary that have similar meanings. Mnemonics can help you study certain units in order, a famous example I used my self in 9th grade was Kelly Has Dandruff But Doesn't Care Much. These were units in scientific conversions and were used in almost everything we learned in that class. Hierarchies can help us study multiple concepts that have multiple sub-categories. The spacing effect allows us to study for huge exams at the end of the semester. Studying a little bit every day can go a long way. 

Automatic Processing & Implicit Memories

Automatic processing is when unconscious encoding of incidental information. This could be space, time, and frequency. It can also include well-learned information, such as word definitions. Our implicit memories include procedural memories for automatic skills, like how to ride a bike. As mentioned earlier we unconsciously process information about space, time, and frequency. When you're studying, you tend to encode the place on the page where the information is located but not the actual information. While you're in school you mentally take note of the sequence of events that happened that day, and remember where you left your notebook later on in the day. You can unconsciously keep track of how many time you ran into a person and realize that it was the fourth time that day that you ran into them. Overall, automatic processing is affecting us daily without us even realizing it. Without it, we wouldn't be able to keep track of miniscule things in our lives.