Explanations for forgetting: Retrieval failure Flashcards
What is retrieval failure?
Inability to access stored memories due to mismatched cues
Retrieval failure occurs when the cues available at encoding do not match those present at retrieval.
What does the encoding specificity principle state?
Retrieval is enhanced when cues during learning match those at recall
Proposed by Endel Tulving in 1975, this principle suggests that memory retrieval is more effective when the context of encoding and retrieval are similar.
What is context-dependent forgetting?
Recall depends on external cues, such as environment
This phenomenon occurs when the context during learning differs from the context during recall.
What is state-dependent forgetting?
Recall depends on internal cues, such as emotional state
This occurs when an individual’s internal state at learning differs from that at recall.
What was the main focus of the study by Godden and Baddeley (1975)?
To investigate context-dependent forgetting in deep-sea divers
The study examined whether divers trained on land would recall information better underwater or on land.
List the four conditions created in the Godden and Baddeley study.
- Learn on land - recall on land
- Learn on land - recall underwater
- Learn underwater - recall on land
- Learn underwater - recall underwater
These conditions allowed researchers to assess the impact of context on memory recall.
What were the findings of the Godden and Baddeley study?
Accurate recall was 40% lower when learning and recall contexts did not match
The study concluded that differing external cues at learning and recall led to significant retrieval failure.
True or False: Retrieval failure can occur when cues present at encoding are absent at retrieval.
True
This highlights the importance of cues in accessing stored information.
Fill in the blank: The phenomenon where recall is hindered due to different external contexts is known as _______.
[context-dependent forgetting]
Fill in the blank: The principle that states memory retrieval is more successful when the learning and recall context match is called _______.
[encoding specificity principle]
What is state-dependent forgetting?
A phenomenon where memory retrieval is affected by the internal physiological state during learning and recall
This concept suggests that memory performance is better when the internal state at retrieval matches the state at encoding.
Who conducted research on state-dependent forgetting?
Sara Carter and Helen Cassaday
They investigated the effects of antihistamine drugs on memory recall.
What was the procedure used in the state-dependent forgetting study?
Participants were given antihistamine drugs and asked to learn lists of words and passages of prose under different conditions
The study created four conditions based on drug use during learning and recall.
List the four conditions used in the study.
- Learn on drug - recall when on drug.
- Learn not on drug - recall when on drug.
- Learn on drug - recall when not on drug.
- Learn not on drug - recall when not on drug.
These conditions allowed researchers to analyze the impact of internal states on memory performance.
What were the findings of the study regarding memory performance?
Memory performance was significantly worse when there was a mismatch between internal state at learning and recall
This highlights the importance of context and internal states in memory retrieval.
True or False: Memory retrieval is better when the internal state is different at learning and recall.
False
A mismatch in internal states leads to more forgetting.
Fill in the blank: The antihistamines used in the study had a _______ effect.
mild sedative
This sedative effect caused participants to feel slightly drowsy.
