Final answer:
The encoding of informational details like word meaning is associated with effortful processing, which requires conscious effort and is particularly effective for memory retention, as it includes semantic encoding of the information.
Step-by-step explanation:
Encoding informational details like word meaning is achieved through effortful processing. This type of processing requires conscious attention and effort to encode the information into memory. For instance, when studying for a test, the material that is being learned necessitates effortful processing to grasp and remember the concepts, especially when it involves understanding and remembering the word meaning which is known as semantic encoding. Such encoding goes beyond the superficial level and involves a deeper level of processing for better retention.
It contrasts with automatic processing, which is how we encode information like time and space without conscious effort. Semantic encoding is a type of effortful processing that includes elaborate rehearsal and the thinking about the meaning of new information and how it connects to what we already know. Notably, semantic encoding results in better memory retention than visual or acoustic encoding because it involves a deeper, more meaningful process of engagement with the material.