FREE ESSAY ON DEPTH OF PROCESSING MODEL

DEPTH OF PROCESSING MODEL

Introduction
There have been many experiments done on depth of processing and the self reference
effect. The Depth of Processing model of memory maintains that how deep something is
encoded into a person's memory depends on using certain types of processing. This relates
to the self reference effect because it is believed that people have the tendency to
remember something better when they can relate it to themselves. People who can
personally relate to something have the tendency to embed it deeper into their memory.
Craik and Tulving did a series of experiments on the depth of processing model. They had
participants use a series of processing methods to encode words at different levels;
shallow, moderate, and deep. The subjects were shown a series of words and ask questions
about the words that would provide a yes or no response. At the shallow level they were
asked questions about whether or not the word was written in capital letters. At the
moderate level of processing, the subject was asked questions as to whether or not two
words rhymed. Finally, the subjects were asked about words in sentences and whether or
not they fit. This was the deep level of processing. After participants had completed the
task they were then given a surprise recognition test with the words that they were just
asked questions on (target words) and then words that they have never seen before
(distraction words). The results of the experiment showed that people remembered the
words better that were at deeper level of processing (Craik and Tulving 1975).
Although there was some criticisms about the above experiment, Craik and Tulving
performed more experiments each time refining the D.O.P. model. There were thoughts that
the structural tasks were easier and not as much time had to be spent on them therefore
people did not have as long to look at those words and could not study them like the
other tasks. Craik and Tulving then made the structural task take equally as long as the
other tasks. The results remand the same as the previous experiments. Craik and Tulving
also originally started with five tasks, but then narrowed it down to three to avoid a
ceiling effect. The self-referent task was later added to model by Rogers. 
Palmere, Benton, Glover, and Ronning (1983) did a series of experiments continuing the
research on the depth of processing model. They used paragraphs and within the paragraph
there were sentences that were supported and then ones that were not. After the subjects
were through reading all the paragraphs, they were then given a recognition test on the
information in the paragraph. The results of this experiment showed that the subjects
remember more information about the sentences which were supported with other information
rather the ones that stand alone. This supports to the depth of processing because
according to this experiment people remember information that had more detail which would
require more thinking which would in turn encode the information at a much deeper level.
The deeper information is encode people are more likely able to recall the information.
Another experiment was done by Bower and Karlin (1974) which tested the depth of
processing model on memory fue faces. They used college student pictures out yearbooks
that were put onto slides. They then showed the slide to the subjects who were asked
questions. The subjects were then ask to look at a serious of slides and asked whether or
not that person had appeared in the original group of slides shown. The results of this
experiment showed that when a person had a more detailed response about a person, the
subject was more inclined to remember that person from the original group. This relates
back to the Depth of Processing model because it showing by using more detail,
information can be processed more deeply.
Bibliography
There have been many experiments done on depth of processing and the self reference
effect. The Depth of Processing model of memory maintains that how deep something is
encoded into a person's memory depends on using certain types of processing. This relates
to the self reference effect because it is believed that people have the tendency to
remember something better when they can relate it to themselves. People who can
personally relate to something have the tendency to embed it deeper into their memory.
Craik and Tulving did a series of experiments on the depth of processing model. They had
participants use a series of processing methods to encode words at different levels;
shallow, moderate, and deep. The subjects were shown a series of words and ask questions
about the words that would provide a yes or no response. At the shallow level they were
asked questions about whether or not the word was written in capital letters. At the
moderate level of processing, the subject was asked questions as to whether or not two
words rhymed. Finally, the subjects were asked about words in sentences and whether or
not they fit. This was the deep level of processing. After participants had completed the
task they were then given a surprise recognition test with the words that they were just
asked questions on (target words) and then words that they have never seen before
(distraction words). The results of the experiment showed that people remembered the
words better that were at deeper level of processing (Craik and Tulving 1975).
Although there was some criticisms about the above experiment, Craik and Tulving
performed more experiments each time refining the D.O.P. model. There were thoughts that
the structural tasks were easier and not as much time had to be spent on them therefore
people did not have as long to look at those words and could not study them like the
other tasks. Craik and Tulving then made the structural task take equally as long as the
other tasks. The results remand the same as the previous experiments. Craik and Tulving
also originally started with five tasks, but then narrowed it down to three to avoid a
ceiling effect. The self-referent task was later added to model by Rogers. 
Palmere, Benton, Glover, and Ronning (1983) did a series of experiments continuing the
research on the depth of processing model. They used paragraphs and within the paragraph
there were sentences that were supported and then ones that were not. After the subjects
were through reading all the paragraphs, they were then given a recognition test on the
information in the paragraph. The results of this experiment showed that the subjects
remember more information about the sentences which were supported with other information
rather the ones that stand alone. This supports to the depth of processing because
according to this experiment people remember information that had more detail which would
require more thinking which would in turn encode the information at a much deeper level.
The deeper information is encode people are more likely able to recall the information.
Another experiment was done by Bower and Karlin (1974) which tested the depth of
processing model on memory fue faces. They used college student pictures out yearbooks
that were put onto slides. They then showed the slide to the subjects who were asked
questions. The subjects were then ask to look at a serious of slides and asked whether or
not that person had appeared in the original group of slides shown. The results of this
experiment showed that when a person had a more detailed response about a person, the
subject was more inclined to remember that person from the original group. This relates
back to the Depth of Processing model because it showing by using more detail,
information can be processed more deeply.