Explanations for forgetting: Retrieval failure

Question 1

what is retrieval failure?

Answer 1

where info is available in LTM but cannot be recalled because of the absence of appropriate cues

Question 2

who proposed the encoding specificity principle?

Answer 2

Tulving and Thomson

Question 3

what does the encoding specificity principle state?

Answer 3

• memory is most effective if the info that was present at encoding is also available at the time of retrieval.
• the closer the cue is to the original item, the more useful it will be.

Question 4

what are the three types of cues?

Answer 4

1. context 2. State dependent forgetting 3. Organisation

Question 5

what are context cues? 2 points

Answer 5

External cues in the environment e.g smell= retriveal is more likely when the context at encoding matches the context of the retrieval.

Question 6

What are state dependent forgetting cues?

Answer 6

• to do with mental/bodily state

- Memory is best when a person;s mental/psychological state is similar at encoding and retrieval