406 • GlossaryRule-based approach (to mechanical reasoning) Applying a rule to solve a mechanical
reasoning problem. Contrasts with approaches that involve mental imagery. (10)Saccadic eye movements Eye movements from one fixation point to another. See also Fixation
(in perception and attention). (4)
Same-object advantage Occurs when the enhancing effect of attention spreads throughout an
object, so that attention to one place on an object results in a facilitation of processing at
other places on the object. (4)
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis The idea that the nature of language in a particular culture can affect
the way people in that culture think. (11)
Savings method Method used to measure retention in Ebbinghaus’s memory experiments. He
read lists of nonsense syllables and determined how many repetitions it took to repeat the
lists with no errors. He then repeated this procedure after various intervals following initial
learning and compared the number of repetitions needed to achieve no errors. (1)
Scene schema A person’s knowledge about what is likely to be contained in a particular
scene. This knowledge can help guide attention to different areas of the scene. For example,
knowledge of what is usually in an office may cause a person to look toward the desk to see
the computer. (4)
Schema A person’s knowledge about what is involved in a particular experience. See also
Script. (8)
Script A type of schema. The conception of the sequence of actions that describe a particular
activity. For example, the sequence of events that are associated with going to class would be
a “going to class” script. See also Schema. (8)
Selective attention The ability to focus on one message and ignore all others. (4)
Self-image hypothesis The idea that memory is enhanced for events that occur as a person’s
self-image or life identity is being formed. This is one of the explanations for the reminis-
cence bump. (8)
Self-reference effect Memory for a word is improved by relating the word to the self. (7)
Semantic coding Coding in the mind in the form of meaning. An example of semantic coding
would be remembering the meaning of something you have read, as opposed to what the
letters or words looked like (visual coding) or sounded like (auditory coding). (5)
Semantic memory Memory for knowledge about the world that is not tied to any specific per-
sonal experience. Semantic and episodic memory together make up declarative memory. (6)
Semantic network approach The approach to understanding how concepts are organized in
the mind that proposes that concepts are arranged in networks. (9)
Semantic regularities Characteristics associated with the functions carried out in different
types of scenes. For example, food preparation, cooking, and perhaps eating occur in a
kitchen. (3)
Semantics The meanings of words and sentences. Distinguished from Syntax. (11)
Sensory memory A brief stage of memory that holds information for seconds or fractions
of a second. It is the first stage in the modal model of memory. See also Iconic memory;
Persistence of vision. (5)
Sentence verification technique A technique in which the participant is asked to indicate
whether a particular sentence is true or false. For example, sentences like “An apple is a
fruit” have been used in studies on categorization. (9)
Serial position curve In a memory experiment in which participants are asked to recall a
list of words, a plot of the percentage of participants remembering each word against the
position of that word in the list. See also Primacy effect; Recency effect. (6)
Shadowing The procedure of repeating a message out loud as it is heard. Shadowing is
commonly used in conjunction with studies of selective attention that use the dichotic
listening procedure. (4)
Shallow processing Processing that involves repetition with little attention to mean-
ing. Shallow processing is usually associated with maintenance rehearsal. See also Deep
processing; Depth of processing. (7)
Short-term memory (STM) A memory mechanism that can hold a limited amount of informa-
tion for a brief period of time, usually around 30 seconds, unless there is rehearsal (such as
repeating a telephone number) that can maintain information in short-term memory. Short-
term memory is one of the stages in the modal model of memory. (5)33559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 40633559_14_glossary_p391-410.indd 406 13/04/10 5:47 PM13/04/10 5:47 PM
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