explanations for forgetting

Question 1

what are the two reasons for forgetting?

Answer 1

interference

retrieval failure theory

Question 2

What is interference?

Answer 2

two pieces of information conflict usually in the LTM

it makes it difficult to locate and recall memories

Question 3

two types of interference?

Answer 3

Retroactive interference = new memories impact on old

Proactive interference = old memories interfere with new

Question 4

interference; McGeoch and McDonald 1931

Answer 4

studies retroactive interference by changing similarties between different lists of words
similar words has the biggest impact on the ability to recall

Question 5

interference; Bruke and Skrull 1988

Answer 5

looked at advertisements in magazines and found earlier advertisements were remembered easier than old
effects were greater when adverts were similar = cognitive interference, harder to recall

Question 6

interference; Bruke and Skrull 1988 - ONE P AND ONE N

Answer 6

P = 1000's of research supporting the idea of interference 
N = use artificial material therefore in real life it will be worse

Question 7

interference; Baddley and Hitch 1977

Answer 7

looked at rugby teams to see if they could remember games played in a season

Question 8

interference; Baddley and Hitch 1977 - ONE P AND ONE N

Answer 8

P = baddley argued that context of recall impacts abiltiy to remember 
N = time between learning is short (10 mins) to learn each word list = unrealistic

Question 9

interference; Tulving and Psotha 1971

Answer 9

5 lists of 24 words to recall by RPS

recall is 70% but falls as you have to remember more

Question 10

what is retrieval failure theory

Answer 10

insentient ques mean you’re less likely to recall = the Ed Coding Specificity Principle

Question 11

retrieval failure theory; Tulving 1983

Answer 11

looked at the Ed Coding Specificity Principle, it helped recall but required at que

Question 12

context dependent theory; Baddley and Gorden 1975

Answer 12

divers had to learn their lists in different conditions in either water or land then had to recall it either in water or on land.
60% recall in conditions that did match

Question 13

state dependent theory; Cater and Cassaday 1998

Answer 13

antihistamine drugs were taken and the RPS had to learn them word lists while on/ off the drug then recall either on/off
conditions that matched recall was better

Question 14

AO3 for retrieval failure theory

Answer 14

lots of lab experiments
Esnic 2010 suggested that retrieval failure theory is the main reason for forgetting
experiments are valid as they’re done in different conditions
context related ques may not always have an effect but will still help

Question 15

Overall AO3

Answer 15

real life applications
generalizations
sample sizes
retrieval failure theory is the main reason for forgetting