Explanations For Forgetting

Question 1

Interference

Answer 1

One memory disrupts another

Question 2

Proactive interference

Answer 2

Forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories

Question 3

Retroactive interference

Answer 3

Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored.

Question 4

Research on the effects of similarity- McGeoch and McDonald

Answer 4

• Studied retroactive interference
• Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them with 100% accuracy
• They then learnt a new list of view
• six groups of participants who had to learn different types of new lists

Group 1- synonyms
Group 2- antonyms
Group 3- words unrelated to original
Group 4- consonant syllables
Group 5- three digits numbers
Group 6- no new list

• The most similar list (synonyms) produced the worst recall
• Intereference is strongest when the memories are similar

Question 5

Evaluation points for the explanations of forgetting: interference- Real world interference

Answer 5

STRENGTH

Rugby players remembered less if played more games over a season (Baddeley and Hitch)

Question 6

Evaluation points for the explanations of forgetting: interference- Interference and cues

Answer 6

STRENGTH

Interference effects are overcome using cues (Tulving and Psotka)

Question 7

Evaluation points for the explanations of forgetting: interference- Support from drug trails

Answer 7

STRENGTH

Taking diazepam after learning reduces interference and forgetting = retrograde facilitation (Coenen and van Luijelaar)

Question 8

Evaluation points for the explanations of forgetting: interference- Validity issues

Answer 8

LIMITATION

Lab studies have high control but use artificial materials and unrealistic procedures

Question 9

Encoding specificity principle (ESP)

Answer 9

That a cue (if its going to be helpful) has to be both present at encoding and present at retrieval
- use of mnemonic techniques to make it meaningful

Question 10

Context-dependant forgetting

Answer 10

recall depends on external cues eg. weather

Question 11

State-dependant forgetting

Answer 11

recall depends on internal cue eg. drunk or upset

Question 12

Research on context dependant forgetting- Godden and Baddeley

Answer 12

• studied deep sea divers who work underwater to see if training on land helped or hindered their work underwater
• learned a list of words either on land or underwater
  Lean on Land- Recall on Land
  Learn on Land- Recall on Underwater
  Learn underwater- Recall underwater
  Learn underwater- Recall on Land
• accurate recall was 40% lower in the non-matching conditions

Question 13

Research on state dependant forgetting- Carter and Cassiday

Answer 13

• Antihistamine drugs
• Made participants slightly drowsy
• Participants had to learn a list of words in 4 conditions

Learn on drug- Recall on drug
Learn on drug- Recall not on drug
Learn not on drug- Recall not on drug
Learn not on drug- Recall on drug

• when cues are absent then there is more forgetting- mismatched conditions

Question 14

Evaluation points for the retrieval failure due to the absence of cues- Real world application

Answer 14

STRENGTH

Cues are weak but worth paying attention to as strategy for improving recall

Question 15

Evaluation points for the retrieval failure due to the absence of cues- Research support

Answer 15

STRENGTH

Wide range of support suggests this is main reason for forgetting

Question 16

Evaluation points for the retrieval failure due to the absence of cues- Recall vs Recognition

Answer 16

LIMITATION

No context effects when memory assessed used recognition test (Godden and Baddeley)

Question 17

Evaluation points for the retrieval failure due to the absence of cues- Problems with the ESP

Answer 17

LIMITATION

Research support for the principle but no interdependent measure of cue encoding