Information processing theory is a cognitive theory that focuses on how information is encoded into our memory. It is an approach to the study of cognitive development that evolved out of the American experimental tradition in psychology. The theory suggests that our cognitive abilities are based on the interaction of sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. The information processing approach is based on several assumptions, including that information made available by the environment is processed by a series of processing systems, which transform or alter the information in systematic ways.
The major components of information processing theory are information stores, cognitive processes, and executive cognition. The theory views humans as actively inputting, retrieving, processing, and storing information. The sequence of information processing goes as follows: the brain receives input, processes the information, and delivers an output.
The theory compares the human brain to a computer or basic processor. The premise of information processing theory is that creating a long-term memory is something that happens in stages; first, we perceive something through our sensory memory, which is everything we can see, hear, feel, or taste in a given moment; our short-term memory is what we use to remember things for very short periods, like a phone number; and long-term memory is stored permanently in our brains.
Information processing theory is currently being utilized in the study of computer or artificial intelligence. It has also been applied to systems beyond the individual, including families and business organizations. This theory is a valuable framework for understanding how the human brain processes, stores, and retrieves information. It allows researchers and educators to better understand the complex mechanisms underlying human learning and develop more effective instructional strategies.
