Explanations for forgetting: retrieval failure Flashcards
What is retrieval failure?
A form of forgetting. It occurs when we don’t have the necessary cues to access a memory. The memory is available but they cannot be accessed until a suitable cue is provided.
Who created the encoding specificity principle (ESP)?
Tulving (1983)
What does the encoding specificity principle state?
The ESP states that if a cue is to help us recall info, then it must be present at both encoding ( when we learn the material) and at retrieval.
If the cues that were present at encoding are not present retrieval or are different, then there will be some forgetting.
Who conducted a study regarding context-dependent forgetting?
Godden and Baddelely (1975)
What was the procedure of Godden and Baddeley’s study?
Divers learnt a list of words either underwater or on land. They then had to recall that info either underwater or on land.
What were the 4 different conditions for learning and recall?
Group 1 = Learnt on land, recalled on land
Group 2 = Learnt on land, recalled underwater
Group 3 = Learn underwater, recall underwater
Group 4 = Learn underwater, recall on land.
What were the findings of Godden and Baddeley’s study?
Accurate recall was 40% lower in the non-matching conditions. This is because the external cues available at learning were different from the ones at recall and this led to retrieval failure.
Recall was better on matching conditions.
Who investigated state-dependent forgetting?
Carter and Cassaday (1998)
What was the procedure for Carter and Cassaday’s study?
They gave anti-histamine tablets to their ppts. The anti-histamines had a mild sedative effect making the ppts slightly drowsy.
The ppts had to learn a list of words and recall them.
What state did the anti-histamines cause for the ppts?
The anti-histamines createsd an internal physiological state different from the normal state of being awake and alert.
What were the 4 conditions in the state-dependent forgetting study.
Learn on drug, recall on drug
Learn on drug, recall off
Learn off drug, recall off
learn off drug, recall on.
What were the findings for Carter and Cassaday’s study?
In the conditions where there was a mismatch between internal state at learning and recall, performance on the memory test was significantly worse. So when the cues are absent, there is more forgetting.
