What cognitive strategy serves to enhance the encoding of information?

The chosen answer, mnemonics, refers to a range of techniques that aid in the encoding and retrieval of information by creating associations between the new information and existing knowledge. Mnemonics can simplify complex information, making it easier to store and later access. This technique often involves the use of acronyms, visual imagery, rhymes, or chunking of information into smaller, manageable parts, all of which enhance memory retention.

In contrast, free recall and cued recall are methods of retrieving information rather than strategies for encoding new information. Free recall requires retrieving information without specific cues, while cued recall uses prompts to assist with memory retrieval. Proactive interference refers to the phenomenon where older information hinders the acquisition and encoding of new material, which is not a cognitive strategy for enhancing encoding but rather a challenge in memory processing. Thus, mnemonics stands out as the most effective cognitive strategy for enhancing the encoding of information.