Explanations for forgetting: Retrieval failure Flashcards
What may be forgetting LTM be due to?
Retieval failure
Retriveal faliure
The failure to find an item of information because you have insufficent cues
Tulving and Thomson (1973)
Procedure
Proposed the encoding specificity principle, the idea that memory is most effective if information that was present at the time of encoding is also avalible at the time of retriveal
Tulving and Thomson (1973)
Findings
Found that p’s recalled 40% of words in a free recall task, in comparison to 60% of words in a cued-recall task, demonstrating the value of retrieval cues
Godden and Baddeley (1975)
Investigated context-depending learning. They recruited scuba divers and arranged for them to learn alist of words either on land or underwater. The divers were then tested either on land or underwater.
Findings
Results revealed the highest recall when intial context matched the recall enviroment
Goodwin et al. (1969)
Procedure and Findibgs
Demonstrated state-dependent forgetting by asking male voluteers to remembers a list of words when they were either drunk or sober. P’s then recalled the list after 24 hours when some were sober and other had to get drunk again.
Results revealed that words were best recalled in the same mental state
AO3
One stength of retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting is the quantity of research support.
E: A range of laboratory, field and natural experiments support the idea of retrieval failure
E: For example, Tulving and Pearlston (1966) demonstrate the power of retrieval cues and Godden and Baddeley (1975) demonstrate the importance of context-depending learning.
L: This matter because the evidence has relevance to everyday memory experiences and therefore high levels of ecological validy.
Another criticism of encoding specificity principle is that the relationship between encoding and retrieval is correlational.
E: Nairne (2002) has critcised what he call the ‘myth of the encoding-retrieval match.’ He claims that the relationship between encoding cues and later retrieval is correlational rather than casual.
E: In other words, the cues do not cause retrieval, they are just associated with retrieval.
L: This matter because a casual relationship between encoding and retrieval cannot be established.
Cues
Are things that serve as a reminder. They may meaningfully link to the material to be remembered or may not be meaningfully linked, such enviromental cues (a room) or cues related to your mental state.
Cues
Are things that serve as a reminder. They may meaningfully link to the material to be remembered or may not be meaningfully linked, such enviromental cues (a room) or cues related to your mental state.
