Final answer:
Encoding information from short-term memory to long-term memory is most efficient when it involves associations with existing knowledge, particularly through semantic encoding and elaborative rehearsal techniques.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of encoding information from short-term memory to long-term memory is most efficient when it involves some kind of association (Option B). Encoding strategies that create associations between new information and existing knowledge are most effective for long-term memory storage. Such strategies could include semantic encoding, which processes verbal information deeply by connecting it to meaning, and elaborative rehearsal, which links new information to knowledge already stored in memory. This is supported by the work of psychologists Fergus Craik and Endel Tulving, who found that semantic encoding was particularly effective when combined with the self-reference effect, making the material personally meaningful to the learner.
Additionally, other strategies that may enhance memory retention include using mnemonic devices, engaging in distributed practice to allow time for memory consolidation, and applying the levels of processing framework, which suggests that deeper thought about information leads to better memory retention.