Which principle explains the organization of information in cognitive processes?

The principle that best explains the organization of information in cognitive processes is the principle of hierarchy. This principle suggests that information is often structured in a way that reflects relationships among concepts, where information is organized from general to specific or from broader categories to narrower items. Hierarchical organization aids memory retrieval because it creates a framework within which related information is stored.

For example, when categorizing animals, one might first classify them as mammals, birds, reptiles, etc., and further break down each category into specific species. This structure not only makes it easier to retrieve specific information when needed but also allows for the efficient processing of new information as it can be connected to existing knowledge in an organized manner.

The other options, while relevant in different contexts, do not primarily focus on how information is structured and organized in cognitive processes. The principle of economy refers to the simplicity of processing, the principle of association relates to how items may be linked in memory, and the principle of relevance focuses on the importance of information within a specific context, but it does not specifically address the hierarchical organization of information.