Final answer:
Thinking about how words relate to one's own life is the most likely method to lead to semantic encoding, utilizing the self-reference effect for better memory retention (choice d).
Step-by-step explanation:
The most likely method to lead to semantic encoding of a list of words is a. thinking about how the words relate to your own life. This technique leverages the self-reference effect, which suggests that people tend to have a better memory for information that is personally relevant. Semantic encoding is a deeper level of processing compared to visual or acoustic encoding because it involves the meanings of words and how they relate to our experiences and knowledge.
According to research by psychologists including Fergus Craik and Endel Tulving, semantic encoding can result in a more robust memory of verbal information. Applying this concept to studying can help individuals better remember information by making it personally meaningful.
Other encoding strategies, such as focusing on the number of vowels and consonants (choice e) or the position of a word in a sentence (choice d), involve more shallow processing and are unlikely to be as effective in enhancing memory retention as semantic encoding.