Final answer:
The dual-coding theory claims that memory for pictures is better than for words as they are stored using both image codes and verbal codes. High-imagery words benefit from both visual and semantic encoding, leading to stronger memory retention. Semantic encoding and the self-reference effect further enhance memory for verbal information when it is personally relevant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement refers to dual-coding theory, which posits that memory for pictures is superior to memory for words, as images are stored using both image codes and verbal codes. Visual encoding, one aspect of this theory, suggests that concrete, high-imagery words (like 'car', 'dog', and 'book') are easier to recall because they allow for the creation of mental images. In contrast, abstract words (like 'level', 'truth', and 'value') that do not easily invoke mental images are less easily remembered. This is because high-imagery words benefit from both visual and semantic encoding, creating a more robust memory.
Research by psychologists such as Paivio emphasizes that high-imagery words have the advantage of being encoded twice, visually and semantically, which reinforces memory retention. Meanwhile, Craik and Tulving's experiments demonstrated that semantic encoding, which involves deeper cognitive processing, yields better memory retention for verbal information. This is further enhanced by the self-reference effect, where information that relates personally to an individual is remembered more efficiently than less personally relevant data.