2.6 Explanations for forgetting: Retrieval failure Flashcards
What did Tulving suggest as the reason we forget?
Insufficient cues
What did Tulving suggest happens when we encode a new memory?
We also store information that occured around it (cues), such as the way we felt or the place we were in.
Define Tulving’s encoding specificity principle.
The greater the similarity between the encoding event and the retrieval event, the greater the chance of recalling the original memory.
Name the two types of cue dependent forgetting.
Context
state
What research did Baddeley perform into context dependent forgetting?
external environment cues
Scuba divers remembered more words when taught them underwater and asked to recall them underwater than above. Vice versa dependent on learning environment
What research did Goodwin perform into state dependent forgetting?
state internal cues
Volunteers remembered a list of words when they were either drunk or sober. Recall scores were higher 24 hours later if information was learned when drunk, making it more available if the volunteer is in the same state again.
Suggest a weakness of retrieval failure theory?
Smith and Vena found that it was a poor explanation for semantic memories in education, as memories are context dependent.
what are cues?
things that serve as a reminder.
they may meaningfully link to the material to be remembered or may not be meaningfully linked, such as environmental cues (a certain room) or cues related to your mental state (being sad or drunk)
define retrieval failure, when does it occur?
occurs due to the absence of cues.
an explanation for forgetting based on the idea the issue relates to being able to retrieve a memory that is there (available) but not accessible.
retrieval failure depends on using cues
summarise explanations for forgetting: retrieval failure
encoding specificity principle - material present at encoding is present at retrieval (Tulving and Thomson)
some cues are not meaningfully linked at encoding but also act as cues
context-dependent forgetting - Abernethy - recall was best with same instructor in the room
context-dependent forgetting: Baddeley and Godden - recall was best initial context (land or water) matched recall environment
state-dependent forgetting: Goodwin et al, recall was best when initial state (drunk or sober) matched state at recall
evaluation of explanations for forgetting: retrieval failure
high validity - wealth of supporting research evidence, both in lab and natural environments
real world applications - to revising and the cognitive interview
cues don’t always work - not useful when learning meaningful material (Smith and Vela)
encoding specificity is circular - it is not a casual relationship (Nairne) and cannot be tested (Baddeley)
retrieval failure can explain interference effects and thus is the more important explanation of forgetting
