Explanations For Forgetting-retrieval failure*

Question 1

Retrieval failure theory- WE NEED CUES

Answer 1

• when we try to recall info, there is insufficient queues
• cues associated with it. Sore cues at the same time we store info
• If cues are not available we have forgotten
• we know it is there but we can’t get to it. without queues we cannot access our memories that are available

Question 2

Encoding specificity principal

Answer 2

• Tulving- Recall best when large overlap between info avail at retrieval and in memory trace
• If cues available at encoding and retrieval are diff—> forgetting

Question 3

Context dependent forgetting ( external cues)

Answer 3

• Godden and Baddeley- sea diver study
• Learn words- in water/on ground- recall water/ground- 4 conditions
• Accurate recall 40% lower in non-matching conditions
• External cues were different

Question 4

State Dependent forgetting(internal cues)

Answer 4

• carter and Cassaday-
• Participants antihistamine drugs + made them drowsy, different from normal state- 4 conditions
• mismatch= significantly worse performance
• cues absent=more forgetting

Question 5

Supporting evidence

Answer 5

• Godden and Baddeley, carter and cassaday
• Eyesneck- suggests retrieval failure= main reason for forgetting in LTM
• increases validity, especially in real life situations

Question 6

Questioning context effects

Answer 6

• Baddeley suggests they are not that strong IRL
• hard to find environment as different
• Real life application doesn’t actually explain much forgetting

Question 7

Recall versus recognition

Answer 7

• Godden and Baddeley replicated underwater study using a recognition test
• Performance was the same in all conditions
• Presence/absence of queues only affect memory if tested in a certain way

Question 8

Real life application

Answer 8

• Baddeley- cues worth paying attention to
• Eg. Walking upstairs, forgetting, then remembering
• Applying retrieval failure to real life allows us to help people remember things more accurately