Final answer:
To maintain information in short-term memory, active rehearsal, such as repetitive practice, is recommended. For long-term memory, elaborative rehearsal is more effective, involving linking new information with existing knowledge. Memory consolidation is aided by additional strategies like chunking and distributed practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best way to keep information active in short-term memory is through active rehearsal, whereas elaborative rehearsal is more effective for encoding information into long-term memory. Active rehearsal involves the repetitive practice of information to be remembered, much like iterating over the alphabet song to learn the ABCs. On the other hand, elaborative rehearsal entails linking new information to existing knowledge, thereby deepening the process of learning which enhances memory retention, as suggested by Craik and Lockhart's levels of processing hypothesis. For example, associating a newly met person's phone number with the area code of a known relative significantly improves the likelihood of remembering that number. Additionally, employing strategies such as chunking, which involves organizing information into manageable bits, and distributed practice, where study sessions are spaced over time, can further bolster memory consolidation and retrieval. Understanding the differentiation between explicit and implicit long-term memory types is also crucial for developing memory-enhancing strategies.