Anderson's ACT theory of memory: declarative knowledge as a propositional network activated by spread of activation¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · 1 claim (1 for) · 1 study (1 causal), q2 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 1 claim rests on one study

Description¶

The report describes Anderson's ACT theory as a general theory of the architecture and basic processes of the human information processing system, one aspect of which is memory. It assumes two basic kinds of knowledge, declarative and procedural, with declarative knowledge stored as interconnected propositions. Activation spreads from currently active propositions to closely related ones, and long-term recall consists of getting target propositions into an active state. The project tested the theory's postulate that "elaborate processingof information should facilitateretrieval of information fromlong-term memory".

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Declarative knowledge must be stored as a propositional network with shared concepts through which activation can spread

Constraints¶

• The theory assumes declarative and procedural knowledge interact in ways that have not yet been specified completely

Target Learners¶

• middle school students

Target Learning Objectives¶

• long-term recall of information learned from prose
• reading comprehension

Claims¶

• Elaborative Processing Enhances Retrieval [+M]

Related Theories¶

• ACT* (Adaptive Control of Thought): automatization as proceduralization of declarative knowledge through practice

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Gagne, Ellen D. (1981). Comprehension and the Long-Term Recall of Information. Final Report. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED221831