"Semantic Encoding Vs. Acoustic Encoding"

Trang Dinh

This experiment was done to test whether the usage of acoustic or semantic encoding would be best in memorizing a number of unrelated items. The hypothesis for this experiment was that semantic encoding would turn out to be the best because this way of encoding allows information to go from the short-term memory into the long-term memory.

The results of this experiment proved the hypothesis correct. There were two groups each of 55 students, Group A and Group B. Group A, whom tested with acoustic encoding, got only and average of .09 items remembered more between the pretest and posttest. The group using semantic encoding, Group B got an average of 4.16 items remembered more in the posttest than the pretest.

What I could conclude from these results is that acoustic encoding does not do well in taking information into the long-term memory. Semantic encoding however, allows the person to remember more for a longer amount of time. My findings are useful for any student who is trying to study for tests or such. To study more sufficiently, to absorb more material, use SEMANTIC ENCODING!