Contemporary embodiment theory's indexical hypothesis predicts that engaging in text-relevant activity while listening to a story will: (1) enhance memory for enacted story content; and, (2) result in relatively greater memory enhancement for enacted atypical events than for typical ones ([Glenberg and Robertson, 1999] and [Glenberg and Robertson,…

This article focuses on the early research domains investigated by Michael Pressley, along with the integrations and initiatives that were inspired by them. These research domains include verbal and imagery elaboration memory strategies, and developmental aspects of them; interrogative elaboration; pictorial strategies for language and literacy…

Elaboration in learning involves meaning-enhancing additions, constructions, or generations that improve one's memory for what is being learned. Recent examples of applications of elaboration theory include efforts in the areas of meta-cognitive components of learning strategies, mnemonics, and text-processing strategies. (TJH)

Eighth-grade students were given short prose passages that described the distinguishing attributes of fictitious towns. Illustrations were devised to represent the attributes, either separately, thematically, or thematically in conjunction with the mnemonic keyword method. Keyword illustrations proved to be highly effective facilitators of…

Examines mnemonic transfer in the form of knowledge generalization in the context of an artwork-learning task. Results reveal that mnemonic instruction produced memory benefits on a direct test, and that on a transfer task, mnemonic students who were directed to focus on the general style of the artist outperformed students who focused on details…

One hundred sixth-graders studied a list of new vocabulary items according to either a semantic-context or mnemonic learning strategy, combined with either an individual or pair format for studying and testing. Results indicate that when a scripted learning pair-learning/testing format was incorporated, vocabulary learning benefits were observed…

Three experiments involving 350 college students were conducted, attempting to validate the phonetic (digit-consonant) mnemonic system as a useful strategy and to apply it to learning artwork. Results supported the use of the system, especially in the combined form for "who" and "when" used in Experiment 3. (SLD)

Research concerning the applied educational potential of Richard Atkinson's mnemonic "keyword method" is reported in this paper. Included are possibilities for stretching the limits of the keyword method by combining it with other mnemonic and prose-learning strategies. The first half of the paper provides an overview of mnemonics--the…

Students learned the numerical order of 14 U.S. Presidents through either a complex mnemonic strategy or their own technique. Performance pattern differences were detected between the groups, chiefly serial position profiles produced by those using their own techniques, and slower response time of subjects using mnemonic strategies. (Author/MBR)

In this study, the self-reported strategies of fifth, seventh, and ninth grade subjects used to learn a list of paired associates were correlated with actual learning performance to test the hypothesis that proficient learners are elaborators. (Author/SB)