explanation for forgetting : retrieval failure

Question 1

what is retrieval failure

Answer 1

• not being able to access memories that are there due to the lack of cues

Question 2

what are the encoding specificity principle

Answer 2

• if a cue is going to be helpful it has to be present at encoding and present at retrieval
• if the cues available at encoding and retrieval are different there will be some forgetting

Question 3

2 examples of non meaningful cues

Answer 3

1. contest dependent forgetting - recall depends on external cue
2. state dependent forgetting - recall depends on internal cue

Question 4

who did research on context dependent forgetting

Answer 4

• Godden and Baddeley (1975)

Question 5

what was the procedure of Godden and Baddeley (1975) research

Answer 5

• deep sea divers to see if training on land helped or hindered their work underwater
  condition 1 - learn on land, recall on land
  condition 2 - learn on land, recall underwater
  condition 3 - learn underwater, recall on land
  condition 4 - learn underwater, recall underwater

Question 6

findings of Godden and Baddeley (1975) research

Answer 6

• accurate recall was 40% lower in non matched conditions
• external cues available at learning were different from the ones available at recall and this led to retrieval failure

Question 7

who did research on state dependent forgetting

Answer 7

Carter and Cassaday (1998)

Question 8

outline Carter and Cassaday (1998) reseahc

Answer 8

• gave paritipant antihestemine which nade them drowsy
  condition 1 - leanr on drug, recall on drug
  condition 2 learn on drug, recall not on drug
  condition 3 learn not on drug, recall on drug
  condition 4 learn not on drug recall when not on drug

Question 9

findings of Carter and Cassaday (1998) research

Answer 9

in the conditions where there was a mismatch between internal state at learning at recall performance on memory test was significantly worse

Question 10

strength of retrieval failure

Answer 10

1. real world application
   - when we have trouble remembering something it is probably worth making the effort to recall the environment in which you first learned it
2. research support
   - studies by Godden and Baddeley show that a lack of relevant cues at recall can lead to context dependent and state dependent forgetting in everyday life

Question 11

limitations of retrieval failure

Answer 11

1. recall versus recognition
   - contest effects may depend on the type of memory being tested
   - Godden and Baddeley (1980) replicated their underwater experiment but used a recognition test instead of recall
   - when recognition was tested there was no contest depended effect and performance was the same in all four conditions