Based on what you know about the dual-coding hypothesis, which word would you expect a participant to remember the best?
A Strawberry
B Experience
C Hope
D Traditional
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Strawberry.
According to the dual-coding hypothesis, information is more easily remembered when it is encoded both verbally and visually. This idea is based on the notion that the brain processes information through two distinct systems: one for visual imagery and one for verbal processing. Words that evoke a strong mental image are easier to recall because they activate both systems.
In this case, strawberry is a concrete noun, meaning it represents something tangible and easy to visualize. When you think of a strawberry, you likely picture its red color, shape, and texture. This visual image reinforces the verbal processing of the word itself. The other words—experience, hope, and traditional—are more abstract and do not conjure strong mental images. “Experience” might bring to mind a specific event or feeling, but it’s not as easy to create a vivid image of “experience” itself. Similarly, “hope” and “traditional” are abstract concepts that don’t provide an immediate mental image.
The dual-coding theory suggests that the more concrete a word is, the easier it is to encode because it engages both the visual and verbal processing systems. Therefore, a participant is more likely to remember strawberry because it can be encoded through both verbal and visual representations, making it more memorable compared to the other abstract terms.