Final answer:
The process of combining related pieces of information into larger, meaningful units is called chunking, a cognitive strategy for organizing information into manageable bits which aids memory and learning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of combining related pieces of information into larger, meaningful units is referred to as chunking. This cognitive strategy involves organizing information into manageable bits or chunks, which helps in forming new memories and assists in the recall of information.
For example, phone numbers are commonly chunked into segments to make them easier to remember, rather than trying to recall a long string of digits.
This concept is deeply rooted in the study of cognition which includes the processes of perception, knowledge, problem-solving, judgment, language, and memory. Encoding is another part of this process, where the brain labels and organizes information into the memory system.
Utilizing chunking allows individuals to see relationships among different elements of experiences and helps in keeping information organized and accessible. It turns complex or large volumes of information into more digestible and retrievable pieces.
Chunking, as part of the cognitive psychology, plays a significant role in aiding our memory and learning processes by breaking down information into pieces that are easier to manage and connect to our existing knowledge base.