Many experiments have been conducted on the depth of processing and the self-reference effect. The Depth of Processing model suggests that the level at which information is encoded in memory depends on the type of processing used. This concept is connected to the self-reference effect, as individuals are believed to remember information better when they can personally relate to it. When individuals can establish a personal connection, they tend to store the information more deeply in their memory.
The depth of processing model was explored in a series of experiments conducted by Craik and Tulving. Participants were instructed to use different methods of processing to encode words at varying levels: shallow, moderate, and deep. For the shallow level, participants were asked questions about whether the word was written in capital letters. The moderate level involved questions about whether two words rhymed. Lastly, the deep level required participants to answer questions about words in sentences and their fit. After completing these tasks, participants were given a surprise recognition test that included target words (the ones they had just been asked questions about) and distraction words (words they had never seen before). The findings of the experiment revealed that people had better recall for words that had undergone deeper levels of processing (Craik and Tulving, 1975).
Despite some criticisms about the above experiment, Craik and Tulving conducted additional experiments to refine the D.O.P. model. Some believed that the structural tasks were easier and required less time, which meant participants did not spend as much time studying those words compared to the other tasks. To address this concern, Craik and Tulving made sure the structural task took an equal amount of time as the other tasks. The results remained consistent with previous experiments. Initially, Craik and Tulving started with five tasks but then narrowed it down to three to prevent a ceiling effect. Rogers later added the self-referent task to the model.
Palmere, Benton, Glover, and Ronning (1983) conducted a series of experiments to further explore the depth of processing model. The experiments involved paragraphs containing supported and standalone sentences. After reading the paragraphs, the subjects were tested on their recognition of the information presented. The results demonstrated that the subjects remembered more information from the sentences that were supported by other information, as compared to standalone sentences. This finding supports the depth of processing theory, as it suggests that people are more likely to remember information that requires deeper cognitive processing. When information is encoded at a deeper level, individuals have a higher likelihood of recalling it.
In a study conducted by Bower and Karlin in 1974, the depth of processing model in memory was examined. The researchers used slides containing pictures of college students extracted from yearbooks. Participants viewed these slides and were then asked questions. Subsequently, they were presented with another set of slides and tasked with determining whether or not the individuals shown had appeared in the original group. The results revealed that participants who provided more detailed responses about a person were more likely to remember that individual from the initial set of slides. Thus, this experiment provides support for the Depth of Processing model, which suggests that processing information at a deeper level can enhance memory.
Many experiments have been conducted on the depth of processing and the self reference effect. The Depth of Processing model suggests that the depth at which information is encoded in memory depends on the type of processing used. This is connected to the self reference effect, as it is believed that individuals are more likely to remember something if they can relate it to themselves. When people can personally connect to something, it becomes more firmly embedded in their memory.
Craik and Tulving conducted a series of experiments to test the depth of processing model. They asked participants questions about words at different levels: shallow, moderate, and deep. Specifically, participants were asked if words were written in capital letters (shallow level), if two words rhymed (moderate level), and if words fit in sentences (deep level). Afterward, participants were surprised with a recognition test that included both the previously questioned words (target words) and unseen words (distraction words). The findings revealed that people had better recall for words processed at a deeper level (Craik and Tulving 1975).
Despite criticisms, additional experiments were conducted by Craik and Tulving to refine the D.O.P. model. Initially, there were concerns that the structural tasks were easier and required less time for study compared to other tasks. To address this, the structural task was adjusted to match the duration of the other tasks. The results remained consistent with previous experiments. Furthermore, Craik and Tulving initially had five tasks but reduced it to three to avoid a ceiling effect. Additionally, Rogers later introduced the self-referent task to the model. Palmere, Benton, Glover, and Ronning (1983) carried out a series of experiments to further explore the depth of processing model. Their experiments involved paragraphs with supported and unsupported sentences. After reading the paragraphs, participants took a recognition test on the information within them. The findings revealed that participants remembered more information from supported sentences compared to those that stood alone. This finding aligns with the depth of processing theory, implying that people remember information that requires more thought and encoding at a deeper level due to its greater detail.People who are able to encode information at a deeper level are more likely to remember it.
Bower and Karlin (1974) conducted an experiment to test the Depth of Processing model on memory. Their focus was specifically on faces. They used college student pictures from yearbooks, which they transferred onto slides. The participants were shown these slides and then asked questions about them. Afterward, a series of slides were presented to them, and they had to determine whether each person in the slide had appeared in the original group. The results showed that when participants provided more detailed responses about a person, they were more likely to remember that individual from the original group. This finding supports the Depth of Processing model as it demonstrates that deeper processing can occur by incorporating more detailed information.
