Definition
Dual coding is the practice of representing new information in two complementary forms (verbal and visual) so that both channels support memory.
Why it matters
Words plus pictures activate more retrieval routes than words alone, making concepts easier to recall and to recognise from new angles.
Scientific basis
Paivio's dual-coding theory and subsequent experiments show that information encoded both verbally and visually is recalled better than information encoded verbally only.
How to apply it
- When you learn a new concept, draw a quick diagram or sketch before moving on.
- Use concept maps that combine words and spatial arrangement.
- When teaching, alternate between explaining verbally and using visuals.
Common mistakes
- Treating diagrams as decoration rather than as a parallel encoding channel.
- Drawing pictures that merely copy the text instead of re-representing the idea.
- Skipping the verbal channel entirely, which still matters for precise recall.
Examples
- Sketching a quick graph of supply and demand while also writing the definition.
- Drawing a small map of the causes of the First World War while reading about them.
Related concepts
- Deep Encoding Strategies (is an instance of)
Dual coding is a specific encoding strategy. - Mental Models (complements)
Mental models often combine visual and verbal elements to represent a system.
Where it shows up
Domains: student-learning, language-learning. Appears in the Memory & Encoding cluster alongside 5 other concepts.
Source books
- Make It Stick: Brown, Roediger & McDaniel