Forgetting Flashcards
What are the explanations of forgetting?
Interference theory
Retrieval failure
What is the interference theory?
Suggests forgetting happens when one set of info competes with another
What are the two types of interference?
Proactive- past information makes it harder to learn new information
Retroactive- recent info makes it harder to learn new info
What is retrieval failure?
Happens when we don’t have the right cues to access a memory
What is Tulving’s encoding specificity principle?
Cues have to be present at both encoding and recall, don’t have to be the exact same but the more similar the better
What are the two types of cues?
Context dependent- recall that depends on external cue, e.g. environment
State dependent- recall that depends on internal cues, such as emotion
What is the case study for context dependent forgetting?
Godden and Baddeley (1975)
Recall underwater/on land
Accurate recall 40% lower in non matching conditions
What is the case study for state dependent forgetting?
Carter and Cassaday (1998)
Recall on antihistamines/not
Recall and learning worse when mismatch between internal states
Strengths of retrieval failure
Research support- Godden and Baddeley, Carter and Cassaday, Goodwin et al (1969)
Real life applications- used in cognitive interviews, helps to facilitate recall from eye witness
Weaknesses of retrieval failure
Ecological validity- lab based studies, don’t test everyday memory
Countering research support- baddeley says context not important unless extreme difference
Strengths of interference theory
Practical application- avoiding similar material when revising, e.g. Spanish and French
Research support- Baddeley and Hitch (1977)- rugby players who played less games forgot less games proportionately
Weaknesses of interference theory
Tells us little about cognitive processes involved
Lab based- low ecological validity
