Explanations for forgetting- Retrieval Failure

Question 1

What is the encoding specificity principle?

Answer 1

Memory is most effective when information present at encoding is also present upon retrieval.

The closer the cue is to the original item, the useful it is

Question 2

Who researched context dependent forgetting and what was the study?

Answer 2

Godden and Baddeley

-Scuba divers

-Got them to remember words on land, and words underwater

-Got them to recall on land, and underwater

-Highest recall was when the initial context was the same as the recall environment

Question 3

Who researched state dependent forgetting and what was the study?

Answer 3

Goodwin

-Asked male volunteers to remember words either drunk or sober

-Ppts asked to recall the words in 24 hours (drunk or sober)

-Recall was best when they were in the same state as they were when they learned the word

Question 4

AO3 +

Lots of research support

Answer 4

-Lab, field and natural experiments to support

-Tulving demonstrated the power of cues (lab)

-Abernethy demonstrated power of context dependency (Field)

High ecological validity

Question 5

AO3 +

Real world application to improve recall

Answer 5

Exams

-Research suggests that learning the content in a similar environment to where you will sit the exam helps recall

-E.G learning in silent halls may improve recall in an exam hall

Supports context dependent forgetting

Question 6

AO3 -

Retrieval cues do not always work

Answer 6

In research, cues are used to help recall of simple words

-cues are less effective for recalling complex knowledge

Question 7

AO3 -

Cues correlational with retrieval, not the cause of it

Answer 7

Baddeley

If a stimulus leads to retrieval, it must have already been encoded

-therefore the cue does not cause the retrieval, it is just associated with it