Explanations of forgetting - Retrieval failure due to absence of cues

Question 1

What is the forgetting due to absence of clues theory?

Answer 1

Forgetting arises when clues are not available for recall that were present during encoding.

Question 2

What are the main assumptions of retrieval failure due to an absence of cues?

Answer 2

A memory trace is laid down as a result of the original perception of an event complete with its surroundings that act as a retrieval cue

Question 3

What is a retrieval cue?

Answer 3

A piece of info in the individual’s cognitive environment at the time of encoding that matches the time of recall.

Question 4

What is an absence of context cues?

Answer 4

They are cues from the environment that are ‘hoovered in’ to the memory trace

Question 5

What is an absence of state cues?

Answer 5

They are cues from within us that are ‘hoovered in’ to the memory trace

Question 6

What is an absence of organisational cues?

Answer 6

A special type of context cue that helps us arrange and structure knowledge and materials

Question 7

Does retrieval failure due to an absence of clues have research to support it?

Answer 7

Baker et al
Students placed randomly into 4 groups. They either chewed gum when learning a list of 15 words for 2 mins or not. They were asked to recall immediately then again after 24 hours whilst chewing gum or not.
Gum / gum = 11
Gum / no gum = 8
no gum / gum = 7
no gum / no gum = 8.5

Question 8

Retrieval failure due to absence of clues only offers an explanation for some situations?

Answer 8

Does not explain repression where negative memories are banished into the unconscious mind. This is known as motivated forgetting.

Question 9

Can retrieval failure due to absence of clues explain everyday situations?

Answer 9

Tip of the tongue experience
When we know something but cannot verbalise it. Information is encoded but not available w/o right cue

Question 10

Does retrieval failure due to absence of clues have good practical applications?

Answer 10

Use in police investigations during EWT - bring them back to scene of the crime.

Question 11

When does context dependent forgetting occur?

Answer 11

When the external environment is different at recall to how it was at coding

Question 12

When does state dependent forgetting occur?

Answer 12

When the internal environment is different at recall to how it was at coding