explanations for forgetting

Question 1

explain interference

Answer 1

• two pieces of info may disrupt each other resulting in forgetting one or both pieces (LTM)
• memories are still available but unable to retrieve due to difficulty locating leading to forgetting info
• interference more likely if similar memories

Question 2

what is proactive interference

Answer 2

an old memory interferes with a new memory

Question 3

what is retroactive interference

Answer 3

a new memory interferes with an old memory

Question 4

which study supports retroactive interference

Answer 4

McGeogh and McDonald (1931)

Question 5

what was the procedure for this study + 6 groups of lists

Answer 5

6 groups of participants learnt 10 words to 100% accuracy then learn a new list (each group with different type of new list)
- synonyms
- antonyms
- words unrelated to original
- consonant syllables
- 3 digit numbers
- control group so no new list

Question 6

what were the findings and conclusions for the study

Answer 6

new words most similar to original list (synonyms) were recalled the worst (where interference was strongest leading to forgetting original words)

Question 7

explain retrieval failure and a cue

Answer 7

• this forgetting occurs when we dont have necessary cues to access memory
• if cues are unavailable then at that moment memory is available but not accessible due to retrieval failure
• a cue is a trigger of information that allows us to access the memory (could be internal or external)

Question 8

what is the encoding specificity principle

Answer 8

a cue must
- present at coding
- present at retrieval

Question 9

how are cues encoded

Answer 9

• cues can be encoded at learning in a meaningful way
• context dependant forgetting (recall depends on external cue)
• state dependant forgetting (recall depends on internal cue)

Question 10

which study supports context dependant forgetting

Answer 10

Godden and Baddeley (1975)

Question 11

what was the study procedure

Answer 11

• studied deep sea divers who work underwater
• learnt a list of words either underwater or on land
• asked to recall word list underwater or on land

Question 12

what were the four conditions for the participants

Answer 12

matching conditions
- learn and recall underwater
- learn and recall on land
non matching
- learn on land recall underwater
- learn underwater recall on land

Question 13

what were the findings of the study

Answer 13

accurate recall was 40% lower in non matching condition therefore the external cues at learning were different from the ones available at recall so this led to retrieval failure

Question 14

issues and debates

Answer 14

for both ecological validity and mundane realism