What is cognitive anchoring?

Definition. Cognitive anchoring is the process by which knowledge moves from short-term to long-term memory, until it becomes a reflex that can be used on the job. Training is "anchored" when its content is still recalled and applied several weeks later, without any material at hand.

Anchoring relies on 3 mechanisms documented by cognitive science research:

1. Spaced repetition: reactivating content at increasing intervals rather than all at once (Cepeda et al., 2006).

2. Active retrieval: testing yourself strengthens memory more than rereading (Roediger et Karpicke, 2006).

3. Contextualization: connecting knowledge to real situations in the job.

Without a retention approach, most of a training program fades within a few days (Murre et Dros, 2015, replication of Ebbinghaus's work). This is known as the cost of forgetting.

Cards automates these 3 mechanisms with its Learning Routine® engine. The steps are detailed on the retention cycle page.