Stages of Memorizing

Though memory is a single process it undergoes three different stages. They are; 

1. Leaning or memorizing
2. Retention
3. Remembering or recalling/retrieved.

1. Learning or Memorizing: 

It is considered to be the first stage of memory. Learning may take place either through conditioning, imitation, trial and error or by insight. But the important thing is, we have to understand the material first, so that we can understand it better and it will last longer.

Good memory depends upon efficient method of learning. Some of them are;

• Learning by understanding the meaning
• Spaced method Vs unspaced method
• Part Vs whole method
• Repetition Vs recall method
• The will to learn and remember or intentional learning

These methods are also known as economical methods of learning.

2. Retention:

It is a stage where the material learnt will be retained, which helps in progress of our learning. Or else we may have to learn the same material again and again. Hence retention plays a significant role in the progress of learning and achievements in life. Whatever we learn will be retained in our unconscious and comes to our conscious when it is required.

According to some psychologists whenever we learn or experience in our daily life, it causes memory traces, which are known as neurograms or angrams, which are formed by the modifications in the nerve cells.

Some psychologists proposed molecular theory of memory in which they explain that memory storage depends upon RNA metabolism. i.e: the structural and functional states of RNA changes dramatically during learning experience, but they do not function as permanent memory traces.

Factors which Effect Retention:

1. Learning by understanding the meaning will be retained longer than learning without knowing its meaning.
2. Larger the material, longer it will be retained as the learner will be active, attentive and put more effort to learn throughout the material.
3. Unpleasant and uninteresting material will be forgotten due to repression and Vise Versa.
4. Retention is better in a fast learner compared to slow learner.
5. Retention for incomplete task will be greater than the completed tasks (Zigarnic Effect).
6. Age effect retention directly.

Some of the Methods Used to Measure Retention:

• Recall method; in the absence of materials.

• Recognition method; in the presence of material but mixed with other material

• Relearning method; time required for original learning and then releasing after gap of time.

• Reconstruction method; the original item presented in a particular order will be jumbled up and the subject has to reconstruct the item in the originally presented order.

3. Remembering or Recalling:

Here in this stage, we use the information that we are storing in our memory. We retrieve those information or materials which are stored in the brain when we require them. Sometimes we may find difficult to retrieve the information from our unconscious mind. Though sometimes we cannot get those information back to our conscious mind, it is said that those materials are still there somewhere in our brain. Sometimes it may happen because of the type of the information.