Which strategy helps in retaining information in short-term memory or transferring it to long-term memory?

The strategy that effectively aids in retaining information in short-term memory and facilitates its transfer to long-term memory is elaborative rehearsal. This technique involves actively engaging with the material by connecting it to existing knowledge, making it more meaningful and easier to recall later.

While maintenance rehearsal, which involves the repetition of information, can help keep information in short-term memory for a short period, it does not significantly contribute to the transfer of that information to long-term memory. In contrast, elaborative rehearsal includes processes such as organizing the information, creating associations, or relating it to personal experiences, which enhances understanding and retention over longer periods.

The other strategies listed—reflective practice and the association technique—serve different purposes. Reflective practice is about thinking critically about past experiences to gain insights and improve future performance rather than focusing primarily on memory retention. The association technique can aid memory by creating links between new and existing information but is not as widely recognized as a method for enhancing memory transfer as elaborative rehearsal is.