How do student participants typically encode information compared to experts?

Student participants often encode information through methods such as rehearsal and mnemonics, which are strategies designed to enhance memory retention and retrieval. Rehearsal involves repetitively reviewing information to keep it in working memory, while mnemonics are memory aids that link new information to pre-existing knowledge or utilize patterns and associations, making the information more memorable.

Unlike experts, who have a deeper understanding of the subject matter and can encode information in a more integrated and contextually rich manner, students may rely heavily on these simpler strategies. This difference arises because experts possess structured knowledge frameworks that allow them to make connections and apply knowledge more effectively, reducing the need for rote memorization techniques. Therefore, the preference for rehearsal and mnemonic devices among student participants highlights their reliance on more basic memory strategies due to their relatively lesser experience and familiarity with the material being learned.