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Tips From the Science of Memory

William Snavley Jr.
PSYC 101-07C
Paul Burrus
04-09-2014

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The section in our books entitled Tips from the Science of Memory-for Studying and for
life, Covers information on Organizing, Encoding, Rehearsal, and retrieval of memories for
future use; along with this it also covers Autobiographical Memory and the story of life, and
Keeping your memory sharp. I will first cover Organization and then move on to the other topics
in order as listed in the book.
Organizing Involves not only putting information in order, but also goes into making sure
your notes are free of potential errors. Putting your material into an orderly fashion so that you
are able to find analogies that take advantage of your preexisting schemas, and making it easier
on yourself to recall information when the information is needed by relating it to prior life
experiences. Encoding is easiest to accomplish when you use multiple types of memorization.
Make sure you are encoding information of the proper level. That you elaborate one major points
of the topics, and that you understand the topics needed to be covered, along with covering the
topics often.
Rehearsal is another way to study memorize information. Some tips for this are, retyping
notes, discussing the topic with other students, and testing yourself without looking at your
notes. Be sure to think about the topics, and ask whether or not you understand the topic in
context to the subject. Retrieving this information is easier when you use cues, stay calm, the
more you use it the easier it is to remember it when it is needed. Helping you to avoid panic
attacks and raising your self-confidence while taking the test.
Autobiographical Memory gives us a since of who we are and relates us to our past
making us who we are in our futures. Keeping our minds sharp is very important as it can help us

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to avoid mental diseases, along with allowing us to continuously produce new neural networks
throughout our lifetimes. In this section they mention how a chess player was able to fight off
some of the effects of AL timers because of his keeping his mind sharp through playing the
game. I also love strategy and real time battle games which make me think. These strategic on
the fly games force my mind to keep going at all times.
For my website I found Brigham Young University of Idaho website. I found this site
very useful not only was it current being updated in 2014. Its relevance was covered also due to
it covering memory, but how to remember with strategies, and also gives tips for encoding. This
sites authority and accuracy is not in debate as it was once again put together by a University. As
for purpose once again being a university this site is to help students to succeed. Leading me to
believe that all the CRAAP is covered.
The lessons on this subject covered by the site overlap in the types of memory, along
with rehearsing information increasing attention and coding information. The video associated
with this lesson also goes over a few different ways to improve on the subjects listed above that
were not covered in our chapter giving me as the student more ways to effectively remember
information that I will need to know for tests and quizs.
I found that the information on attention that was not covered in our chapter to be most
helpful as I suffer from a few disorders dealing with attention defecate. Giving yourself a goal
for a predetermined amount of time, choose goals that are accomplishable, reward yourself, get
interested in the subject, along with a few other ideas that may help me in the long run. The
video also covers the forgetting curve along with how to overcome it, and I believe that this
expands on the rehearsal topic opening up even more ways to succeed.

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As the last section covers coding I found that once again yes it does cover the same
informations as in our text however, once again it expands on this topic giving examples of
mnemonics, location association, and visualization. As I watched the video I was increasingly
intrigued along with pleased to see that there was a video for me to watch that used visuals
sounds and words for me to be able to have a higher retention of the subject.
My study plan for the upcoming exam has been modified do to the research and lessons
on this topic as I am bad for cramming on the last night. I have always had success with this as I
find it very hard to remember anything if I do not cover it the night before and then the day of
any test.
With the lessons in mind my plan is to,
1). gather all of my study guides, which I will read at least once a day before the test and
then the morning of the test,
2). Define terms so that I may be able to relate them to the topics at hand,
3). Reread at least 2 chapters a night so that the information is fresh in my mind.
4). Find relatable material to everyday life already stored in my memory, to link these
new lessons to.
As I stated before I have a large difficulty when it comes to tests. But with the
information from the chapters read here, and the information from the website I am hopeful that
future tests will be more successfully taken.

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References
King, L. A. (2013). Experience PSYCHOLOGY second edition. New York, NY: Mc Graw Hill.
Memorization. (2014). Retrieved April 7, 2014, from Brigham Young University - Idaho
website: http://www.byui.edu/academic-support-centers/study-skills/study-skillsvideos/memorization