Explanations of forgetting Flashcards
Explain retrieval failure
Retrieval theory explains forgetting as a result of inability to retrieve a memory
Explain decay theory
Decay theory explains forgetting as a result of the memory no longer being stored in LTM
Explain the 2 types of interference
proactive interference - when an old memory interferes with an old memory
retroactive interference - when a new memory interferes with a old memory
Similar memories interfere with memory retrieval
Explain how Underwood conducted a study to find evidence for proactive interference
Underwood made ppts learn multiple or single word lists prior to the last list.
He tested how each test condition affected memory
Explain the result of Underwood’s study
The earlier word lists interfered with the memory of the last list
With a single list - 80% recalled the later lists
With multiple lists - 20% recalled the later lists
Explain how Underwood and Potsman conducted a study to prove retroactive interference
The control group - pairs of words in a word list
Experimental group - 2 word lists with pairs of words where some words were the same in both lists
What are the limitations of the evidences for interference theory?
- They are both lab experiments so they lack ecological validity and won’t generalise to everyday life
EG; IRL memories are rarely long random word lists but instead they are meaningful - This theory only explains a situation where forgetting occurs due to similar memories, however sometimes we forget things randomly
EG; tip of the tongue phenomenon
Explain the result of Underwood and Potsman’s study
The experimental group had more trouble remembering the first word list due to interference of the 2nd word list
Explain how retrieval cues are formed to trigger memories
Retireval cues are formed when a mental link is formed between an experience and other memories with it during encoding
eg the sound of saad al ghamdi reciting surah yaseen brings you back to yaseen mornings at Azhar
What are the 2 types of cues?
Internal cues - thoughts and feelings experienced during encoding
External cues - features of the external world experienced during encoding
eg; feeling full and remembering how full you were when you went to wah bey for your birthday = internal
drinking iced tea and remembering the iced tea you tasted at Saj’s wedding = external
Explain cue overloading
When retrieval cues can be associated with multiple memories
This increases forgetting
How do multiple cues for a memory affect the likelihood to forget?
Less likely to forget because there are more cues to trigger that one memory
How did Godden and Baddley prove CDF?
2 groups of ppts learnt lists on land or underwater
The groups were split and half of each were tested in the same context and the other in the 2nd test condition
eg group learning under water could recall better in the same context ie under water
What can be concluded about CDF from Godden and Baddley’s word lists?
It proves that external cues trigger retrieval
50% more recall when in same context
What did Tulving and Psotka find?
- In the free recall condition, those who learned more lists had worse recall for words in the earlier lists.
- The memory of the later lists was interfering with the memory of the earlier lists = retroactive interference.
- More lists to learn = more forgetting in FREE RECALL
- CDF always had better recall, even with more word lists and the interference effect was gone
- Forgetting was due to inability to access retrieval cues
