The levels-of-processing theory states that if we process information at a deeper level, we are more likely to remember it.
When we process information at a shallow level, it is processed merely in terms of its physical and sensory aspects.
At an intermediate level of processing, the shapes may be translated into more meaningful units.
At the deepest level of processing, information is analyzed in terms of its meaning and emotional content.
The depth at which information is processed is critical when learning and studying course material. Thinking about the meaning of the terms, and reflecting on how they relate to information that one currently knows, is a far more effective route to long-term retention.
