Glebko N.R. Digital Environment and Cognitive Processes: What Happens to Memorization and How to Study It

Statement of the Problem. The accelerating digitalization of everyday life is transforming fundamental cognitive processes, particularly memory encoding and storage. However, existing empirical research on memory in digital environments suffers from low reproducibility due to the absence of a standardized methodological framework. Current paradigms often fail to account for key variables such as digital engagement, trust in digital sources, and individual information management strategies.

Purpose of the Study. This paper provides a theoretical and methodological rationale for rethinking approaches to the study of memory within digital environments. Special attention is paid to the phenomena of digital amnesia (the Google Effect) and transactive memory as adaptive mechanisms of cognitive offloading and information retrieval.

Methods. The study employs categorical analysis, critical synthesis of empirical findings, and operationalization of underexplored psychological variables. The article is theoretical and does not report on empirical data collection but proposes a revised research tool for future studies: a modified version of the Tatarko questionnaire capturing digital trust, everyday storage strategies, and levels of digital engagement.

Findings. The proposed instrument expands upon existing methodologies by incorporating behavioral and affective variables essential to understanding memory processes in digital settings. A typology of digital users is introduced to support participant classification in laboratory and field research. This framework enhances the interpretability of experimental results regarding memory performance and compensatory cognitive strategies in interaction with digital interfaces.

Conclusion & Significance. The digital environment is not merely a context but an active agent in reshaping cognitive functions. To achieve reproducible and ecologically valid results, researchers must revise traditional methods and integrate metrics reflecting real-world digital behaviors. The modified questionnaire represents a concrete step toward developing a unified methodological basis for the cognitive study of memory in the digital age.

Key words: long-term memory, transactive memory, digital environment, interface, Google Effect, digital amnesia

For citation: Glebko, N.R. (2025). Digital Environment and Cognitive Processes: What Happens to Memorization and How to Study It. New Psychological Research, No. 3, 75–99. DOI: 10.51217/npsyresearch_2025_05_03_04

Acknowledgement 

The author would like to thank Gorbunova Elena S., a scientific supervisor. The work was carried out within the framework of the Fundamental Research Program of the National Research University Higher School of Economics in 2025.