Explanations for Forgetting

Question 1

What is the retrieval failure theory of forgetting?

Answer 1

States we forget because we have insufficient cues

Question 2

Name the three types of cues in retrieval failure

Answer 2

Context, Internal state, Category

Question 3

What are context cues?

Answer 3

We remember better when we are in the same environment the information was learnt or context dependent forgetting will occur

Question 4

What are internal state cues?

Answer 4

You are more likely to remember something when in the same internal state you learnt the info in or state dependent forgetting occurs

Question 5

What are category cues?

Answer 5

We categorise things as we learn them, so if these cues are present or are prompted we are more likely to recall (e.g. words starting with b)

Question 6

What is the ESP?

Answer 6

Encoding specificity principle - Tulving (1983) —> states cues present at the time of learning must be present at recall, or dependent forgetting will occur

Question 7

Give strengths for retrieval theory of forgetting

Answer 7

+ Real world application - revising and learning in exam situations; high external validity
+ Research support - Golden & Baddeley carried out research on divers; learnt word list in land and water - accuracy of recall 40% lower when environment was different
however contexts aren’t usually so drastically different
+ Research support for internal state - Carter & Cassaday, found people with anti-histamines (made ppts drowsy) recalled better when in same state

Question 8

Give a weakness for retrieval failure theory of forgetting

Answer 8

– ESP is infalsifiable - we must make inferences on whether a cue has been encoded or not, which cannot be proven or disproven

Question 9

Describe the interference theory of forgetting

Answer 9

Occurs when recall of one memory blocks the recall of another, causing forgetting or distorted perceptions of memories

Question 10

Define the two types of interference

Answer 10

Proactive = old memories block recollection of new memories (think p for past)
Retroactive = new memories block recollection of old memories (think r for recent)

Question 11

Which two factors make interference more likely?

Answer 11

• when memories are very similar
• when memories were learnt together

Question 12

Outline research support for retroactive interference

Answer 12

McGeoch & McDonald 1931
- ppts memorised a word list, then split into 6 groups to learn a new list or no new list (control); found those who had synonyms to original list had worst recall
- supports idea that extent of forgetting is larger when memories are very similar

Question 13

Give strengths for interference theory of forgetting

Answer 13

+ Research support - interference has been demonstrated in lab studies; high IV
+ Baddeley and Hitch - asked rugby players to recall their last game and number of games played that season; no of games played found to be more important demonstrating retroactive interference

Question 14

Give limitations for interference theory of forgetting

Answer 14

– Artificial stimuli - use of random word lists have low mundane realism; doesn’t reflect forgetting in reality
– Studies - often conducted in short spaces of time (1/2 hours after learning; doesn’t reflect normal time passage of memory