Memory Improvement Strategies

We are aware that our memory is perfect when we encode the information by understanding the meaning and try to develop rich elaborate encoding.  Apart from this there are several other techniques which are responsible for improving our memory. They are:

Mnemonics

The term ‘Mnemonics’ is derived from the Greek Goddess of memory Mnemosyne.

Broadly speaking mnemonics are a group of memory techniques, or mental ‘slights of hand’ that together facilitate the quick and easy assimilation of information of all kinds.

Facts, figures, names, faces and events, all can be learned and recalled far easier by using mnemonics, than by using the conventional means of rote learning and repetition.

Mnemonics is a strategy which helps to improve memory it includes 

a) Visual imagery 

b) Method of Loci 

c) Organization 

Mnemonics using visual imagery 

Imagery refers to the mental representations of objects or actions that are no physically present. 

Bower and Winzeny (1970) conducted an experiment in order to show the effect of visual imagery on memory. In their study the participants were divided into 4 groups and all the groups were presented with nouns and each group was tested under different condition. 

1st group was tested with repetition test in which they were asked to repeat the pairs silently for themselves. 

2nd group was given sentence reading task in which experimenters devised sentences using the pairs of noun. 

3rd group was tested with sentence generating the participants made up a sentence with each word and said it aloud. 

4th group of participants were tested with imagery in which they were asked to construct a mental picture of the 2 words in interaction with each other. 

After learning several lists of words, the participants were presented with 1st word pair and they had to recall the 2nd word of the pair. Result revealed that out of 15 words people under repetition group scored an average of 5.2 where as people of imagery group scored an average of 12.7 words. 

Thus research shows that imagery is the powerful strategy for enhancing memory. Especially when the items to be recalled are interaction with each other. 

Method of Loci 

This method instructs people to associate items to be learned with series of physical location. It is one of the oldest memory devise. The basic rules of using this method involve: 

1. Visualizing a series of places, in a specific sequence, which you are familiar with. 

2. Making up an image to represent each item you want to remember. 

3. Associating the items one by one with the corresponding location in memory. 

Groninger (1971) tested this technique by dividing participants into 2 groups. Both the groups were asked to learn a list of words. The experimental group was initiated to learn it using method of loci where as the control group was asked to learn using any method of their choice. The group performance was tested after 5 weeks. The results revealed that the performance of experimental was far more appreciating than the performance of controlled group. 

Organization 

Organization is attempt to bring order and pattern to the material we learn Eg : 1) chunking, 2) Method of hierarchy the items are arranged in a series of classes. From most general classes to the most specific classes. 

Eg: Hierarchy of animals:

A hierarchy is form of outline; an outline is valuable because it provides organization and structure for concepts which we learn in a particular discipline. 

1) Another popular mnemonic that makes use of organization is first letter technique – which involves taking the 1st letter of each word you want to remember and composing a word or a sentence form the letters. 

Eg: Red. Orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet could be remembered as ROVGBIV 

Usually medical students use this method to study anatomy. 

Eg: (position, rest, ice, compression. Elevation could be remembered ad PRICE) 

However Morr –(1978) reported that 1st letter techniques helps us to recall better when of items is important and will not help much when we have to remember unrelated items. 

2) External memory aids 

It is defined as any device external to the person that facilitates memory in some way. 

Eg:

• Taking notes on a lecture 
• Shopping list 
• Book mark 
• Asking someone else to remind us to do something. 

These external memory aids eases the burden of remembering too much information.