Definitionv1
Depth of processing: the cognitive engagement mode where
Depth of processing: the cognitive engagement mode where information is encoded at meaning level, connecting new material to existing knowledge structures, testing claims against prior experience, and restating arguments in one's own language, producing richer, more interconnected memory traces than surface-level processing
Why This Is a Definition
This definition precisely establishes the semantic boundary of 'depth of processing' by identifying its genus (cognitive engagement mode) and differentia (meaning-level encoding, connection to existing knowledge, testing claims, restating in own language) that distinguishes it from surface-level processing. It directly references Craik & Lockhart's framework and explains the mechanism behind why depth produces different cognitive outcomes.