Final answer:
The student is engaging in elaborative rehearsal by linking the new information about molecular structure to a personal memory of crystals, which helps in transferring this information into long-term memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
A student who finds himself/herself relating a lecturer's statement that "Molecular structure is of a crystalline nature" to a recollection of looking at crystals through a microscope is engaging in elaborative rehearsal. This cognitive strategy involves connecting new information to existing knowledge, thereby facilitating its transfer from short-term to long-term memory. By linking the concept of molecular structure to a personal memory, the student deepens the processing of this information, which aligns with Craik and Lockhart's levels of processing theory indicating that the deeper the level of processing, the stronger the memory retention will be.
The concept of retrieval is also relevant here as the student is recalling information stored within long-term memory. Retrieval cues, like the visual memory of crystals, aid in the process of accessing stored information. Additionally, this method of study capitalizes on the self-reference effect, making the learning more personally relevant and easier to recall in the future.