Final answer:
Memory is a process involving stages of encoding, storing, and retrieving information, exemplified by the Atkinson-Shiffrin model. Sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory are the stages through which information passes for processing and storage. Retrieval from long-term memory occurs through recall, recognition, and relearning, and various strategies can enhance memory function.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to research, memory is indeed a process that takes place in stages, involving encoding, storing, and retrieving information. This concept of how memory functions can be encapsulated by the Atkinson-Shiffrin model. This model posits that we first process information through our sensory memory, which briefly holds environmental stimuli for less than a second to a few seconds. Attention to this information transfers it into our short-term memory, where rehearsal can lead to its transfer into long-term memory for permanent storage.
The process of retrieval in long-term memory can happen through recall, recognition, and relearning. Problems such as encoding failures, amnesia, and interference can lead to forgetting, indicating the complexity and at times, fallibility, of memory. However, there are strategies such as mnemonic devices, rehearsal, and ensuring adequate sleep that can enhance memory and assist in the transition of information from short-term to long-term storage.