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Canadian Journal of Psychology, 1990, 44(1), 87-112
Canadian Journal of Psychology Outstanding Contributions Series
Levels of Processing: A Retrospective Commentary on a Framework for Memory Research
Robert S. Lockhart and Hergus l.M. Craik University of Toronto ABSTRACT The influence on memory research of levels of processing (Craik & I^ockharl, 1972) is reviewed, and a number of conceptual and empirical criticisms are evaluated. Research since 1972 has enabled the original formulation of depth of processing to be refined in various ways, and the concepts of elaboration and distinctiveness of encoding are discussed as examples of this refinement. It is concluded that, despite change and development, many of the original ideas of levels of processing have survived and that as a research framework it has been substantially successful in encouraging the building of a dala base that can serve as a foundation for future theory construction. RKSUMK I/influence des niveaux de traitcment sur la recherche touchanl la memoire (Craik & Lockhart, 1972) est passcc en revue et un certain nombre de critiques concepluelles el empiriques sont cvaluees. La recherche depuis 1972 a pcrmis de ralfiner de maintcs facons la formulation originale de la profondeur de traitemenl el les concepts dc I'claboralion et dc clarte de codage sont discutes comme cxemple de raffinement. L'on arrive a la conclusion que malgre le changement ct le developpcnicnt, nombreuses sont les idees originates quant aux niveaux dc traitcment qui ont survecu et que, en tant quc cadre dc recherche, ccs idces ont eu un certain succes a encouragcr I'acquisition dc donnces qui peuvent servir de fondalions pour la construction dc futures theories. The levels of processing framework proposed by Craik and Lockhart (1972) presented a general approach to memory research that has been widely influential and the subject of intensive critical scrutiny. The purpose of the present article is to offer some retrospective
Canadian Journal of Psychology Outstanding Contributions Series
Levels of Processing: A Retrospective Commentary on a Framework for Memory Research
Robert S. Lockhart and Hergus l.M. Craik University of Toronto ABSTRACT The influence on memory research of levels of processing (Craik & I^ockharl, 1972) is reviewed, and a number of conceptual and empirical criticisms are evaluated. Research since 1972 has enabled the original formulation of depth of processing to be refined in various ways, and the concepts of elaboration and distinctiveness of encoding are discussed as examples of this refinement. It is concluded that, despite change and development, many of the original ideas of levels of processing have survived and that as a research framework it has been substantially successful in encouraging the building of a dala base that can serve as a foundation for future theory construction. RKSUMK I/influence des niveaux de traitcment sur la recherche touchanl la memoire (Craik & Lockhart, 1972) est passcc en revue et un certain nombre de critiques concepluelles el empiriques sont cvaluees. La recherche depuis 1972 a pcrmis de ralfiner de maintcs facons la formulation originale de la profondeur de traitemenl el les concepts dc I'claboralion et dc clarte de codage sont discutes comme cxemple de raffinement. L'on arrive a la conclusion que malgre le changement ct le developpcnicnt, nombreuses sont les idees originates quant aux niveaux dc traitcment qui ont survecu et que, en tant quc cadre dc recherche, ccs idces ont eu un certain succes a encouragcr I'acquisition dc donnces qui peuvent servir de fondalions pour la construction dc futures theories. The levels of processing framework proposed by Craik and Lockhart (1972) presented a general approach to memory research that has been widely influential and the subject of intensive critical scrutiny. The purpose of the present article is to offer some retrospective