Explanations of Forgetting

Question 1

Name both explanations of forgetting.

Answer 1

-Interference Theory
-Retrieval Failure

Question 2

What is the intro of interference theory?

Answer 2

-two lots of information are coded at different times
-causes confusion in the LTM
-One memory would disrupt the other memory
-More likely to happen with similar information
-There are 2 types

Question 3

What are the 2 types of interference theory

Answer 3

Proactive and Retroactive

Question 4

Explain the Proactive Theory.

Answer 4

-When past information stored in the memory disrupts the recall of new information
-E.G old phone number disrupts the recall of the new phone number

Question 5

Explain the Retroactive Theory.

Answer 5

-When recent information stored in the memory disrupts recall of past information stored in the memory
-E.G new car registration disrupts the recall of the old car registration.

Question 6

Explain the intro of retrieval failure.

Answer 6

-absence of cues
-suggesting that forgetting occurs as information is still in the LTM
-cannot be accessed due to the lack of memory cues

Question 7

What are the two types?

Answer 7

-Context dependant
-State dependant

Question 8

What is context dependant forgetting?

Answer 8

-due to the lack of external cues to trigger recall
-environment is different to when recall occurred to when it is coded
-forgetting is more likely
-E.G exam room vs classroom

Question 9

What is state dependant forgetting?

Answer 9

-due to the lack of internal cues which triggers recall
-because of the internal physical/emotional state being different at recall to when is is coded
-E.G dancing on stage vs studio

Question 10

What are the Evaluation for interference theory?

Answer 10

-RTS,Mcdonald and Mgheof
-lacks mundane realism

Question 11

Explain the research my Mcdonald and MCgeof.

Answer 11

-gave a list of words to participants (list A)
-had to learn until they had 100% accuracy
-Were given a second list (interference) this was list B
-recall list A
-was found that LIST B synonyms to list A recall was poor (12%)
-list B of different words to List A recall was higher (26%)
-BECAUSE, interference is strongest when the words were similar which is what the theory predicts

Question 12

Explain Lacks Mundane Realism.

Answer 12

-artificial task of learning a list of words which is often used
-difficult to generalise to real life examples of forgetting
-doesn’t reflect what we try to remember(E.G)
-Memories are less likely to get contaminated as they are more meaningful
-limits support

Question 13

What are the Evaluations for Retrieval failure?

Answer 13

-RTS, Godden and Baddeley
-DISCUSSION, context effects aren’t strong
-Goodwin et al

Question 14

Explain Goodwin et al research.

Answer 14

-male ppt had to learn a list of words drunk/sober
-they would then recall the list 24 hours later in the same state or opposite state
-found that forgetting was more likely in the opposite state than the state it was learned in
-BECAUSE, demonstates that due to the lack of internal cues forgetting is more likely.

Question 15

Explain Baddeley discussion.

Answer 15

-argues that context must be strong to show effect
-difficult to find a environment that has the same difference as land and water
-in contrast learning something in one room and recalling in another forgetting is unlikely
-lack of contextual cues may not explain forgetting in everyday life.

Question 16

Explain the research of Godden and Baddeley.

Answer 16

-scuba divers given a list of words to learn on land / underwater
-they would then recall the list in the same setting/opposite one
-found that forgetting is more likely in a opposite setting then where it was learnt (40% less accuracy)
-BECAUSE it demonstrates that due to lack of external cues in the environment forgetting is more likely.