Forgetting Flashcards
what are the 2 different types of explanations to forgetting
Retrieval failure
Interference effects
What is retrieval failure
it is a type of forgetting where necessary cues aren’t available to access the knowledge. The knowledge is present just not accessible
e.g. learning and recalling in different places
What is a cue and what are some examples
It is a trigger of information that allows us to access a memory
- Meaningful
- Non - meaningful
external cues - context
internal cues - mental state
what is the encoding specificity principle (Tulving)
Where the cue has to be both present at encoding and present at retrieval
what are the examples of non-meaningful cues
context-dependent - when the environment during recall is different from the learning environment
state-dependent - when your mood or physiological state during recall is different from your mood when learning
what is the research on context- dependent forgetting (Godden and Baddeley)
18 diving participants took part in 4 conditions
They learnt 38 unrelated words and
heard them 2 times
- learnt on beach - recall on beach
- learnt on beach - recall underwater
- learnt underwater - recall on beach
- learnt underwater - recall underwater
50% better recall when learning and recall are the same. 40% more words were forgotten the condition changed
What is the research on state dependent forgetting (Goodwin et.al)
48 medical students were randomly assigned to 4 groups
- (SS) sober on both days
- (AA) intoxicated on both days
- (AS) intoxicated on day 1 sober on day 2
- (SA) sober on day 1 intoxicated on day 2
The participants had to perform 4 different tests
More errors were made when the conditions on both days were different
What is the research on state dependent forgetting (Carter and Cassidy )
They gave some participants antihistamines (hay fever tablets) which makes them drowsy and made learn a list of words to recall
4 conditions:
. learn on drug - recall on drug
. learn on drug - recall off drug
. learn off drug - recall off drug
. learn off drug - recall on drug
It shown the same as Goodwin et al that when cues are absent there is more forgetting
what would you include in the evaluation of retrieval failure on an explanation to forgetting
- lots of research support
- retrieval don’t always work
- retrieval failure explains interference effects
How would you evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation to forgetting
(lots of research support)
The wealth of research is a significant strength in explaining the role of retrieval failure on forgetting
Examples:
- Tulving and Pearlstone conducted an experiment where participants had to learn a list of categorised words. When given a category name as a cue more words were recalled than without
- similarly it was shown through and experiment that people who learnt and was tested in the same room had a higher test score
How would you evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation to forgetting
( Retrieval cues do not always work)
while retrieval cues effect recall, their effectiveness is limited as information if often more complex than simple ques.
Known as outshining hypothesis, where presence of better cues outshines context cues
Explain - Smith and vela found context effects are largely eliminated when learning meaningful material which suggests retrieval cues cannot explain some instances of forgetting
How would you evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation to forgetting
( retrieval failure explains inference effects )
Its ability to explain interference effects
- Tulving and poska showed that interference effects are due to the absesnese of cues.
Participants learnt multiple word lists and performed worse woth more lists (retroactive interference). However woth cued recall they remember around 70% of the lists.
Indicates information is avalible but not always accsesible and shows cues can mitigate interference effects
How would you evaluate context- dependent forgetting?
- Variable control issues (Godden and Baddeley) = Their research shown that environmental cues aid memory recall but it lacked internal validity. As the divers participated at different times and places so the environment could ag=effect the results
- Design and sample concerns- Small sample size (can’t generalise)
. repeated measures ( demand characteristics and order effects e.g. practise and fatigue)
. independent design would have been better but hard with trained divers - Ethical concerns - regarding participant safety. One diver was almost hit by a boat
How would you evaluate state-dependent forgetting?
- research from Goodwin et.al - He demonstrated that retrieval failure happens when emotional states vary in learning and recall. (His study on sober and non sober). Supports the idea state impacts recall
- Research from Carter and Cassidy
Also demonstrated retrieval failure is due to state. ( Their research with drugs and not on drugs). Shows when the cues are absent there’s more forgetting so state is curtail for forgetting - Criticism of cause and effect - Nairhe criticised the research suggesting its correlation rather than causation. As he said cues present at encoding and retrieval are associated but do not cause recall. suggesting it is not a direct casual relationship and other factors can play a role
What are the components for inference effects
Retroactive interference
Proactive interference
What is Retroactive and Proactive interference
what is interference
- Retroactive interference - Some new information disrupts information already stored
(New knowledge interferes old knowledge) - Proactive interference - Forwards in time so something already learnt disrupts something you are trying to learn
(old knowledge interferes with new knowledge) - interference - When one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgot
What would you use to evaluate interference in the theory of forgetting
+ real world interference
- inference ques
- Artificially and lack of ecological validity
What would you use to evaluate interference in the theory of forgetting
( real world interference )
Strength is there’s is evidence of interference effects in everyday situations.
- Baddeley and Hitch - asked rugby players the names of teams they have recently played. All players played over the same time interval (1 season) but games played varied due to injury
- Players who missed matches had a higher recall of teams
Supports retroactive interference
What would you use to evaluate interference in the theory of forgetting
- interference and cues
It may be temporary and can be over come by cues.
-Psychologists gave participants lists of words organised into categorises. Recall averaged 70% for the first list but dropped as more lists were given.
- However when given a cued recall test at the end recall rose to 70% again
Shows interference may be temporary and can be mitigated by cues
highlighting importance of retrieval cues
What would you use to evaluate interference in the theory of forgetting
- Artificiality and lack of ecological validity
Often criticised for being artificial and ecological validity
- Most research is carried out in a laboratory using meaningless stimuli such a trigrams.
- Psychologists such as McDonald used such stimuli’s in there research
So results cannot be generalised as they do not represent everyday examples
Highlighting the need for more ecologically valid research
