Explanations for forgetting

Question 1

Muller and Pilzecker (1900)

Answer 1

Retro active interference
- pp given nonsense syllables to learn for 6 mins, after retention interval
- performance decreased when given intervening task
- intervening task intervened with what was previously learnt

Question 2

Underwood 1957

Answer 2

meta analysis-
when pp learn word lists, they don’t learn the words in later lists

• if pp memorised 10 lists. after 24 hrs, only 20% is recalled
• if only 1 list memorised = 70% recall after 24 hrs

Question 3

Baddeley and Hitch (1977)

Answer 3

Rugby players
- those who played = bad recall on who they played with
- those who missed games= better recall

• recency effect

Question 4

RF- Tulving (1983)

Answer 4

Cue needed to remember
queue should be present at learning AND retrieval to work

• context dependant forgetting- recall based on external cues e.g weather, temp
• state dependant forgetting- recall based on internal cues, e.g feelings and physical state such as being drunk

Question 5

RF- Godden and Baddeley (1975)

Answer 5

How cues influence retrieval
- pp learn underwater, recall land
- learn underwater, recall underwater
- learn land, recall underwater
- learn land, recall land

FINDINGS
- Recall accuracy was 40% less in nonsense matching condition due to different cues

Question 6

RF - Carter and Cassidy (1998)

Answer 6

pp given antihistamines
- pp learn and recall on and off drug
- recall worse in unmatched conds