Explanations of forgetting

Question 1

What reasons have been suggested for forgetting?

Answer 1

Retroactive interference / proactive interference / Retrieval failure (state-dependent or context-dependent)

Question 2

What do interference theories suggest?

Answer 2

Information cannot be recalled as new or previously learnt memories are competing causing forgetting

Question 3

What is proactive interference?

Answer 3

When old information interferes with the newer information

Question 4

what is retroactive interference?

Answer 4

Where new information interferes with old memories

Question 5

What study can be used to support retroactive interference?

Answer 5

Baddeley’s rugby players study: he found that players would forget who they had played not based on interval but based on how many matches had been played in the meantime

Question 6

What is a negative of interference theory of forgetting?

Answer 6

It only tackles a specific example of forgetting where the pieces of information are similar so it is not generalisable to every instance

Question 7

What does Retrieval failure theory suggest?

Answer 7

It is the absence of cues, state or context, which causes us to forget

Question 8

What is the encoding specificity principle?

Answer 8

Cues are naturally associated when we learn information and so need to be there when we recall, they can be intentional like a mnemonic or unintentional

Question 9

What are the two types of forgetting in retrieval failure theory?

Answer 9

State and context

Question 10

What was the divers study by Baddeley which supports context-dependent forgetting?

Answer 10

• Ps learnt a list of words either on land or underwater and then had to recall them in either the same context or the other context
• P’s recalling in the same context had higher recall than those who did not

Question 11

What are evaluation points for Baddeley’s divers study?

Answer 11

• Low ecological validity so not applicable to everyday life
• Demand characteristics as it was repeated measures where the same P’s took part in all 4 conditions

Question 12

What was the anti-histamine study which supports state-dependent forgetting?

Answer 12

• P’s had to learn a list. of words wither on or off the drug and then recall either on or off the drug (4 conditions total)
• P’s who recalled in the same context they had learnt in had higher scores

Question 13

How can you evaluate the anti-hestamine study?

Answer 13

• no demand characteristics as its independent groups so results are more valid