The theory of double coding is a cognitive theory developed by Allan Paivio in 1971, based on the idea that mental imaging helps in learning, this theory suggests that it is possible to give a boost to learning and expand the study material through verbal communication. associations and visual images.
Our cognition is a complex process that is able to simultaneously process the input of language and nonverbal objects and events.
- According to Allan Paivio’s theory of dual coding.
- Our language system directly processes language inputs and outputs.
- While using symbolic images to adapt to behavior and event.
- So it is equipped with dual functionality.
“Human cognition is unique because it specializes in simultaneous processing of language and nonverbal objects and events. In addition, the language system is special because it deals directly with linguistic inputs and outputs (in the form of speech or writing) and, at the same time, performs a symbolic function with respect to nonverbal objects, events and behaviors Should a theory of representation adapt to this dual functionality?. – Allan Paivio-
According to Paivio, a person can develop what they have learned in two ways: with verbal associations and with visual images.
The theory of double coding states that information, both visual and verbal, is used to represent information. Visual and verbal information is treated differently and in different channels in the human mind, resulting in separate representations for the information processed in each channel.
The mental codes corresponding to such representations are used to organize the information you enter, so that it can be stored, retrieved and even modified for later use.
You can use visual and verbal codes to memorize information. In addition, encoding a stimulus in two different ways increases the ability to remember a memorized element.
In the theory of double coding, there are three different types of treatment: representation, referencing processing and associative treatment.
In most cases, all three forms are unconsciously needed when it comes to a particular task; in other words, a task may require one or all three types of treatment.
Paivio also publishes that there are two different types of representative units: “Images” for mental images and “logogens” for verbal entities.
Logogens are organized in terms of associations and hierarchies, while images are organized in terms of relationships between all parties.
There is some controversy over the limits of Allan Paivio’s theory of double coding. For example, this theory does not take into account the possibility that cognition is mediated by more than just words or images.
In this sense, little research has been done to determine whether words and images are the only way to remember the elements.
Another limitation of the dual encoding theory is that it is only valid for tests that ask people to focus on identifying the relationship between concepts, if no associations can be formed between a word and an image, it is much more difficult to perform the associated encode and remember the word later. This limits the effectiveness of the double coding theory.
Moreover, the theory of double coding is not accepted by all. As an alternative to how knowledge is mentally represented, John Anderson and Gordon Bower proposed propositional theory.
Propositional theory states that mental representations are stored in the form of proposals rather than images, here the proposal is defined as the meaning underlying the relationship between concepts.
This theory states that images occur as a result of other cognitive processes, since knowledge is not represented in the form of images, words or symbols.