Explanations for Forgetting: Retrieval Failure Flashcards
What does the retrieval failure theory state?
The retrieval failure theory states people may forget information because of insufficient cues.
When information is placed into memory, associated cues are stored at the same time.
If these cues are not available at the time of recall, it may make it appear as if you have forgotten the information but in fact it is due to retrieval failure.
What is retrieval failure?
Retrieval failure is the inability to access memories that are there
What pattern did Tulving identify after reviewing research into retrieval failure?
Tulving identified the encoding specificity principle
What does the encoding specificity principle state?
Tulving states that if a cue is to help us to recall information it has to be present at encoding (whilst we are learning the information) and at retrieval (when we are recalling learned information)
if the cues available at encoding and retrieval are different or if the cues are absent there will be some forgetting
Tulving identified two types of forgetting. What are the two types of forgetting?
The two types of forgetting are context - dependent forgetting and state - dependent forgetting
What is context - dependent forgetting?
Context - dependent forgetting is when there is a mismatch between the environment where info is learnt and the environment where info is retrieved
What is state - dependent forgetting?
State - dependent forgetting is when there is a mismatch between the mental state where the information is learnt and the mental state when the information is retrieved
What is strength of the retrieval failure theory? (alcohol + state - dependent retrieval)
A study by Goodwin et al investigated the effect of alcohol on state - dependent retrieval. They found that when people encoded information when drunk, they were more likely recall it in the same state. For example, when they hid money when drunk, they were unlikely to find to when sober. However when they were drunk again, they often discovered the hiding place. This shows the retrieval failure theory has population validity and could be a tool for the development of wider population
What is strength of the retrieval failure theory? (sea divers + recalling lists of words)
Godden and Baddeley conducted a study with deep sea divers. They had the divers learn a list of words either underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the list in 4 conditions. By learning on land and recalling on land, learning on land and recalling underwater, learning underwater and recalling underwater, learning underwater and recalling on land. It was found that where the environments matched during learning and retrieval accurate recall was higher than in the non - matching conditions, with 40% accurate recalls. This study provides supporting evidence to increase the validity of the explanation
What is a limitation of the retrieval failure theory? (Tulving and Pearlstone)
A study by Tulving and Pearlstone had participants learn lists of words belonging to different categories, for example names of animals, sports etc. Participants were then asked to recall the words. A control group of participants were asked to recall without being given the category names. Those given the category names recalled more words than those who were not. This supports the retrieval failure theory because it suggest the category names acted as cues to aid/trigger memories
What is a limitation of the retrieval failure theory? ()
It is difficult to accurately test the encoding specificity principle when a cue produces the successful recall of a word, it is assumed that the cue must have been encoded during the time of learning. However, it is very difficult to establish whether or not the cue has really been encoded.
