AP Psychology Practice Test

What term describes organizing items into familiar, manageable units?

1. Chunking

2. Semantic Encoding

3. Echoic Memory

4. Long-term Potentiation

The correct answer is: Chunking

The term that describes organizing items into familiar, manageable units is known as chunking. Chunking is a cognitive strategy that enhances memory retention by grouping information into larger, more meaningful units, making it easier to remember. For instance, when memorizing a long string of numbers, one might break it down into smaller groups, such as remembering the date 1776 as “17” and “76” instead of as four individual digits. This technique takes advantage of the brain's ability to recognize patterns and structures, thereby reducing cognitive load and allowing more information to be processed and recalled efficiently. It's particularly useful in cases where the information to be memorized is extensive, as it converts a potentially overwhelming amount of data into simpler components. The other terms do not specifically relate to the process of organizing information for improved memorization. Semantic encoding refers to the process of encoding the meaning of information, echoic memory pertains to the sensory memory of auditory stimuli, and long-term potentiation relates to the strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity, all of which do not directly describe the process of chunking information.