Exploring How Encoding Modality Affects Memory Performance in Organic Chemistry

Abstract

Project Title: Exploring How Encoding Modality Effects Memory Performance in Organic Chemistry
 Research within education, psychology, and cognitive science has established the foundational theories and perspectives on how individuals encode information into their working memory and long-term memory. Despite decades of research on the mechanisms underlying memory, we know little about how individuals encode and retrieve scientific models. We are even less confident on the impact and influence of domain-specific expertise when considering the different modes that individuals preferentially use to encode information. Using a dual-task interference experiment, we investigated whether one type of scientific model, molecular formulas, is encoded in a verbal modality. We also investigated the role of chemistry-specific expertise and its impacts on encoding molecular formulas (CH3OH) and analogous ‘non-formulas’ (HC3HO). This presentation will present our preliminary findings and implications for teaching and learning in chemistry.