Defining the Self-Reference Effect
What is the self-reference effect?
The tendency to remember information better when we relate it to ourselves.
Why does the self-reference effect improve memory?
It encourages elaboration and organization of information.
What researchers first studied the self-reference effect in 1977?
Rogers et al
In Foley et al.’s (1999) study, what were participants instructed to visualize?
Either the object itself or themselves using the object.
What does self-referencing encourage that helps with memory retention?
Elaboration
What is the main advantage of using self-referential processing?
It enhances memory by providing a rich set of cues and encouraging elaboration.
What cognitive process is increased when we process self-relevant material?
Rehearsal
What four types of word processing did Rogers et al. (1977) examine?
Visual, acoustic, semantic, and self-reference.
What surprising finding did Foley et al. (1999) discover about participant behavior?
Many participants used self-referencing even when not instructed to.
Why does material associated with the self tend to be rehearsed more often?
We naturally think about ourselves more frequently.
What type of material is more likely to be remembered according to the self-reference effect?
Words or traits that apply to ourselves.
How does self-referential thinking affect trait organization?
It encourages us to see how personal traits are interconnected.
What research method did Symons & Johnson (1997) use to confirm the self-reference effect?
Meta-analysis
By how much did recall improve when self-referencing was used in Foley et al.’s (1999) study?
Recall was three times higher.
How does self-referencing help us connect personal traits?
It encourages deeper thinking about how our traits relate to each other.
What psychological theme influences whether self-referential processing is more effective?
The distinction between positive and negative traits.
True or False - Self-referential encoding is less effective than semantic encoding.
False - Self-referential encoding is more effective.
What was the main conclusion of Symons & Johnson’s (1997) meta-analysis?
The self-reference effect is a robust and reliable phenomenon.
What is a major implication of Foley et al.’s (1999) research on self-referencing?
Studies may underestimate the true power of the self-reference effect.
What is one practical application of the self-reference effect in education?
Students can improve memory by relating study material to their own lives.