Evaluating Explanations For Forgetting: Retrieval Failure

Question 1

Real-world application:

Smith (1979)

Answer 1

Such research can be used to improve recall in real life. Smith showed that just thinking of the room where you did the original learning was as effective as actually being in the room

Question 2

Retrieval cues don’t always work:

Answer 2

Information we learn is related to a lot more than just cues and that learning complex associations are not easily triggered by a single cure resulting in the OUTSHINING HYPOTHESIS: the effect of a cue is reduced by better cues

Question 3

Retrieval failure explains interference effects:

Tulving and Psotka (1971)

Answer 3

showed that interference effects are due to the absence of cues. In a study with 2 groups (free recall and cued recall). The more lists participants learned, the worse their performance = retroactive interference. However in cues recall, this interference dis sapped showing that the information is available by cannot be retrieved