This model also suggested that information not present at the time of encoding would be added to memory if it was based on schematic knowledge of the world. This model proposed that whether new information would be encoded was dependent on its consistency with prior knowledge (mental schemas).

In 1932, Frederic Bartlett proposed the idea of mental schemas. His research demonstrated the ability to create a semantic relationship between two unrelated items.

Ivan Pavlov began research pertaining to classical conditioning. Ebbinghaus' results paved the way for experimental psychology in memory and other mental processes.ĭuring the 1900s, further progress in memory research was made. He found that lists that allowed associations to be made and semantic meaning was apparent were easier to recall. He used these relatively meaningless words so that prior associations between meaningful words would not influence learning.

These experiments led him to suggest the learning curve.

Using himself as a subject he studied how we learn and forget information by repeating a list of nonsense syllables to the rhythm of a metronome until they were committed to his memory. Ebbinghaus was a pioneer in the field of memory research. A major figure in the history of encoding is Hermann Ebbinghaus (1850–1909). Encoding is still relatively new and unexplored but origins of encoding date back to age old philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato.

Semantic encoding in psychology