Question about how people process information

[phoenix64]

Oh great wise and wonderful friends list, I have a question. I have had this bouncing around in my head for some time now but my paltry layman's research skills have left me without answers. Between the students and the teachers and the librarians and the generally smart people on my friends list I'm hoping one of you can help me.

Basically, I'm wondering about the way people process information, and what the differences might be between handwriting and typing/keyboarding. I figure someone has to have done a study at some point, at least one, but I can't even find any reference to the idea. Can someone out there toss me a clue? Thanks regardless!

Comments

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that's a very interesting idea! It sounds like something that might be (or should be!) addressed in learning styles research, but that's my own uneducated guess.

[travels-in-time.livejournal.com]

I don't have the slightest idea! Would personal anecdotes help? If I'm trying to learn something, I find that I remember information much better when I actually handwrite it out, but it takes forever that way and makes my hands cramp. (I was fine in school, but I never write now. Apparently I've lost the ability.)

I don't remember things so well when I type them. But it goes much faster and then I can sit and re-read over and over until I get it.

[weslyn.livejournal.com]

The only thing I can think of as far as an study that's been done would be on handwriting, but not really the processing of handwritten information. There are psychological studies on handwriting - which explores the person's hand writing style and somehow applies that to the inner workings of their subconscious. (Or something like that... It's something I only vaguely remember.)

Other than that, from personal experience, I have forced myself back into hand-writing. Keyboard typing is faster, and it's great for brainstorming - especially when I've so many ideas that if I don't get them all down, I'll lose something. But for detailed writing, because handwriting is a bit slower, it really gives my brain a chance to focus on the words I'm putting down. In other words, when I'm hand-writing, I'm able to absorb more of what I'm putting on paper - able to feel it out, and thus the quality of writing is better, since I'm giving myself more time to think it out.

Does that help?

[phoenix64.livejournal.com]

See, pretty much everyone I talk to seems to agree that there's more brainwork going on when they're writing something versus typing it. I find it hard to believe that no one has studied this, but I can't find any evidence of it!