Survival Processing Conference Presentation

April 16, 2011 Cell science symposium @ St. Thomas University , Miami FL/
National Conference of Undergraduate Research in Ithaca, NY.
Representing Florida International University in Cognitive Psychology
for introducing a new encoding/retention technique known as Survival Processing.

Survival Processing: Its Potential as a Learning Strategy

Abstract:
Evolutionary psychologists have proposed that our memory is an adaptable product of natural selection which has evolved to strengthen our needs to reproduce and survive. Implicationally, memory systems are especially prone to survival and reproductive relevant encoding, so we retain information better when it is encoded under survival conditions. This notion was explored in two experiments I conducted which compared the efficiency of four different encoding strategies for vocabulary-based learning using paired associate recall. 295 participants who were undergraduate students at Florida International University were examined. I was interested in a method known as survival processing- a process in which the learner recollects words relevant to an imaginary scenario of personal survival. I then compared it to conventional encoding techniques. Participants were shown a list of particular words of English-Swahili translations on a PowerPoint view board and were instructed to rate the relevance of each word-pair pertaining to a specific retention strategy. After a retention interval, the participants were given a recall test for each word-pair they previously rated. The results indicated that survival processing was the most effective strategy to use for survival-relevant vocabulary, but that the visual imagery technique was most advantageous for overall paired associate recall. Consequently, the research proposes revised teaching and learning strategies for vocabulary based word recall, specifically in foreign language courses in which vocabulary retention is constantly tested.

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Category:

Education

Tags:

• survival processing
• psychology
• evolution
• evolutionary psychology
• cognitive psychology
• memory
• cognition
• adaption
• encoding
• retention
• recall
• memory technique
• memory strategy
• experiment
• st. Thomas university
• Ithaca
• college
• new York
• Miami
• participant
• 2011
• 2010
• research
• science
• presentation
• conference
• natural selection
• NCUR
• vocabulary
• words
• learning
• teaching
• neuroscience
• brain
• FIU

[turbo3oh]

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[M16musicc]

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[MrHornyprawny]

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[707kang]

Good to see your doing well. Thanks for your prior service.