Do you want information to process better and stay in your LTM (Long Term Memory)? Well, all you have to do is follow the Levels of Processing Theory. The Levels processing Theory says the depth of processing information has a big impact on how well it is remembered.
What Is Levels of Processing Theory?
Levels Processing Theory is the theory that assumes that deeper, more meaningful engagement with information leads to better memory retention compared to shallow processing that focuses on surface details. It is also the idea that the way information is encoded affects how well it is remembered. The deeper the level of processing, the easier the information is to recall. With Levels of Processing Theory, there is some Circular reasoning, in the context of levels of processing, refers to the flawed argument where the premises are used to support the conclusion, and the conclusion is also used to support the premises, creating a loop without providing independent evidence for either.
What are some of the most common processes used?
We can process information in 3 ways: [1]
- Shallow Processing, and with shallow processing it takes two forms.
- Structural Processing – Is when we encode only the physical qualities of something. E.g. The typeface of a word or how the letters look.
- Phonemic Processing – Which is when we encode its sound.
- Deep Processing – Which also takes two forms.
- Sematic Processing – Which happens when we encode the meaning of a word and relate it to similar words with similar meaning.
Deep processing also involves Elaboration Rehearsal – Which involves a more meaningful analysis (e.g. images, thinking, associations, etc.) of information and leads to better recall.
What has come from studies?
The data gathered indicates that high-NFC (Need for Cognition) people exhibit enhanced target recall for word lists, which may come at the expense of overall accuracy due to the increase of false recall. [2] In this experiment people were shown a list of words from Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm and told to process half of the list deeply and the other half shallowly.
The next experiment has to do with the importance of allocating your conscious attention to encoding and retrieval from long-term memory. College students were shown schematic faces in a secondary task and numerical problems as a primary task. Recognition of the faces was better when subjects allocated conscious attention to encoding than when they did not, in consistent support of the encoding hypothesis. [3]
One of the final experiments I’m going to talk about has to do with Levels of processing and cognitive load theories suggest that students in PACT classrooms may outperform students in comparison classes because PACT engages and supports deep cognitive processing (via elaboration an discussion) at the time of learning, allowing participants to better conserve and more consistently reallocate cognitive and metacognitive resources (compared to students in the non- treated group) for encoding content. [4]
Now that I’ve told you about what levels of processing theory is and some information on some of the studies done to prove and show how it works, I want to talk to you about how this theory will benefit you for your future here at college.
I have one more article about said Theory and how it helps you get ready and prepared for tests and exams. In this article, we present a theoretical model that integrates various factors that seem relevant to strategy adaptation in test preparation including the teacher’s intended task demands, students’ perceptions of these demand students’ personal goals for studying, and their ability to adapt and implement strategies. [5] Basically I’m talking about and pointing out how important it is to go to class and pay your full attention for that set time frame of said class. It will only help and benefit you in the long run, especially for all the tests and exams that will come with the college experience.
Conclusion
In short form we talked about what Levels of Processing Theory is and how it’s kind of an open book with the Circular Reasoning, but there is also plenty of evidence to prove the Theory to be true and accurate. Know that you know how important it is to pay deep attention to the things your professor has to say I expect nothing but A’s, I wish you good luck, also you need to have fun as well, college isn’t all about learning, its also about experiences!
References
By, McLeod, S., on, U., & 19, A. (2025). Levels of processing theory (Craik & Lockhart, 1972). Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/levelsofprocessing.html [1]
Wootan, S. S., & Leding, J. K. (2015). Need for Cognition and False Memory: Can One’s Natural Processing Style Be Manipulated by External Factors? The American Journal of Psychology, 128(4), 459–468. https://doi.org/10.5406/amerjpsyc.128.4.0459 [2]
Kellogg, R. T., Cocklin, T., & Bourne, L. E. (1982). Conscious Attentional Demands of Encoding and Retrieval from Long-Term Memory. The American Journal of Psychology, 95(2), 183–198. https://doi.org/10.2307/1422465 [3]
Roberts, G., Scammacca, N., Osman, D. J., Hall, C., Mohammed, S. S., & Vaughn, S. (2014). Team-Based Learning: Moderating Effects of Metacognitive Elaborative Rehearsal and Middle School History Content Recall. Educational Psychology Review, 26(3), 451–468. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43548435 [4]
Broekkamp, H., & Van Hout-Wolters, B. H. A. M. (2007). Students’ Adaptation of Study Strategies When Preparing for Classroom Tests. Educational Psychology Review, 19(4), 401–428. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23363841 [5]