Retention of information for immediate or future use falls under which stage of information processing?

The concept of information retention specifically relates to the stage of information processing known as storage. This stage involves encoding and maintaining information in the brain so that it can later be retrieved for immediate or future use. In a learning context, once information has been inputted or acquired and integrated into one's understanding, it must be stored effectively to ensure that it can be recalled when necessary.

Each of the other stages plays a different role in the information processing cycle. The input stage involves the initial acquisition of information, while integration concerns the process of making connections between new information and existing knowledge. Application refers to using the stored information to perform tasks or solve problems. Therefore, storage is the correct choice, as it precisely captures the essence of holding information in readiness for later retrieval.