Glossary / Lexicon

Placement stage refers to an early stage in drawing, usually found among 2-year-olds, in which children place their scribbles in various locations on the page, such as in the middle or near a border.

In psychology, the placement stage refers to the process of encoding information into memory by determining where it should be stored. The placement stage is important because it can affect the ease with which information can be retrieved from memory later on.

Here are some examples to illustrate the placement stage:

1. Example 1: A student is studying for a test and is trying to memorize a list of vocabulary words. They use a mnemonic device to associate each word with a specific location in their house. For example, they might associate the word "apple" with the kitchen. This uses the placement stage to help them remember the words more effectively.

2. Example 2: A person is trying to remember their friend's phone number. They decide to repeat the number to themselves several times to help encode it into memory. By using the placement stage to associate the number with a specific verbal code, they can better remember it later.

3. Example 3: A psychologist is conducting a study and wants to ensure that participants remember the instructions correctly. They provide a written list of instructions, as well as a verbal explanation, to help ensure that the information is encoded in multiple ways and in multiple locations.

4. Example 4: A person is trying to remember the location of their car in a large parking lot. They take note of the specific location and landmarks around their car, using the placement stage to encode the information into memory more effectively.

In summary, the placement stage is the process of encoding information into memory by determining where it should be stored. Examples of the placement stage can include using mnemonic devices, repeating information, providing written and verbal instructions, and taking note of specific details in order to better remember them later.