Memory Models: are you sure that’s how it works?

GIF from giphy.com

It was quite nice to see that the mechanisms and processes of memory in a model. However, it was not assuring to know that this model and even the components of the model is just a theory. I did some ADHA-kind of thinking and I realized that we might be leading the wrong way all this time since this cognitive information processing theory might actually be wrong all this time! It’s now scary for me to apply this tactic and concept in real life. Although, as Karl Marx implied that “what is theory without practice?” I, myself, would like to did deeper into the concepts and principles of information processing theories to assess the soundness, effectivity and efficiency of all the assertions. Looking at the amount and description done to support this theory was very intriguing. I can imagine how those researchers had to put two and two together and make inferences along the way. I guess this is why I want to be a researcher on top of being an instructional designer 🙂

However, I cannot deny that the assertions and concepts of information processing theory are quite accurate sometimes. It can explain why we cannot remember or retain some information compared to others through the concepts and processes of the short and long-term memory. It shows how I learn more when there are no noisy distractions. However, I think that maybe we believe in things such as long and short term memory because it’s the only concepts that can explain why our memory works the way it does. What if another concept about memory is proposed with the same potential of possibility as the information processing theory today? I guess my point is that maybe, just maybe, we are being shaped by the theory and not us shaping the theory to help us understand memory. It is a bit freaky if you think about it that way.

But as Will Smith said in the Men in Black movie:

GIF from giphy.com