Explanations For Forgetting: Retrieval Failure Flashcards
what is retrieval failure?
an absence of cues effects our memory leading to forgetting.
what is the encoding specificity principle?
Tulving and Thomson said the memory is most effective is info that was present at encoding is also present at retrieval.
The study consisted of 48 words being out into 12 categories and two groups of pets where asked to recall the words. Those with cued-recall had 60% accuracy and those with free recall had 40%.
what is context-dependant forgetting?
Abernethy had a group of students take a test before a new course started then have weekly tests. One condition consisted of students having the same instructors each time but same or different rooms and another had students with different instructors but the same or different rooms.
what is state-dependent forgetting?
the mental state you are at the time of learning can also act as a cue.
Goodwin et al. had male volunteers get drunk and learn a list of words then recall them the next day whilst also drunk or sober. Those who where drunk at the time of learning and time of recall had better performance than those who where drunk at the time f learning but sober at the time of recall.
how does real-world application support retrieval failure?
Abernathy’s research may be unrealistic but you can imagine yourself in the room in which you learned content and it as just as effective as actually being in the room.
Helps to suggest strategies for improving recall in the real-world.
what is a criticism of retrieve failure?
retrieval failure does not always work, for example when taking a test a lot of content needs to be learnt and therefore cues may not work.
