elaborasjon

Elaborasjon, or elaboration in English, refers to the process of expanding a statement or idea by adding detail, clarification, or related information. The term derives from Latin elaborare, meaning “to work out” or “to develop deeply.” In Norwegian usage it is applied across disciplines to describe both cognitive techniques for understanding and rhetorical acts that provide supplementary material.

In education and writing, elaborasjon is a learning strategy that supports comprehension and long-term retention. Students elaborate on new information by offering explanations, examples, analogies, causes and effects, or connections to prior knowledge. Effective elaboration helps integrate new material with existing mental schemas, promoting transfer to new contexts. Instructional approaches that encourage elaboration include prompts for explanations, contrasts, comparisons, and the generation of relevant examples.

In memory research, elaborasjon (elaborative encoding) refers to creating richer, more associative representations of information during encoding. By linking new items to existing memories or knowledge structures, elaboration enhances recall and recognition compared with superficial encoding. Techniques often used include imagery, narrative associations, and semantic processing.

In writing and communication, elaborasjon involves expanding a message to improve clarity, depth, or persuasiveness. While elaboration can enhance understanding, excessive detail or digression may cause redundancy or confusion, so balance is important.

See also: elaborative rehearsal, memory encoding, cognitive psychology, writing pedagogy.