Forgetting Flashcards
Why is forgetting necessary for survival?
If we didn’t forget we wouldnt be able to concentrate.
Our brains would be overloaded and not be able to function properly.
Two explanations for forgetting
-Availability ( where information is stored)
-Accessibility ( whether we can access the information/ retrieve it)
What are the 2 types of forgetting?
Interference theory
- retrieval failure
What is interference theory?
2 pieces of information disrupt each other, resulting in forgetting one, both or DISTORTED memory.
- Interference between memories makes it harder to locate them, which LEADS to forgetting.
What are the types of interference?
Pro active
Retro active
What is proactive interference?
Pro actively trying to learn something ( form new memories) but OLD memories DISRUPT new memories.
What is retroactive interference?
New memories coming in the way of accessing OLD memories.
Effects of similarity on interference, discuss research?
Interference IS WORSE when memories are similar.
McGeoch and McDonald 1931.
-Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could recall them with 100% accuracy.
-They then learned a new list.
-There were 6 groups of participants learning 6 different types of lists.
What were the findings of mcGeoch and McDonald? What do they show?
When words had similar meanings, it was more difficult to remember them.
This supports the theory that interference is the strongest when MEMORIES ARE SIMILAR.
What are some limitations to research into interference?
-not generalisable to real world
- lab experiment so lacks ECOLOGICAL validity.
What is another research into interference (hint: rugby players)
Baddley and hitch.
What was the procedure in baddeley and hitchs study?
Rugby players were asked to remember names of teams they had played against during the season.
- the players had all played over the SAME time interval but number of actual games played varied due to injury or suspension.
What were the results? And how do they support interference theory?
Accurate recall did not depend on how long ago the matches were played but was based on the NUMBER OF GAMES played in the meantime.
- players who had played the most games had the worst recall.
This supports interference theory as games were similar so it was easier for interference to occur between memories (worser recall).
What is retrieval failure?
when we initially store a memory, some associated CUES are also stored with it.
- if those cues aren’t present when we retrieve a memory we may STRUGGLE to recall it.
- forgetting according to this theory is due to a LACK OF CUES.
What is the encoding specifity principle ?
According to TULLING, if a cue is to help us recall information, it must be PRESENT when we first LEARN the information (encoded) and also when we are RECALLING (retrieving) the information.
If the cues at encoding and retrieval are different, FORGETTING occurs.
What are the two types of retrieval failure?
Context dependent forgetting
State dependent forgetting
What is context dependent forgetting?
Based on EXTERNAL cues
- occurs when the environment ( eg, classroom) during recall is different from the environment you were in when learning the information.
What is state dependent forgetting?
based on INTERNAL cues.
- occurs when the psychological/ internal state ( eg. Sober/ drunk) during recall is different from the state you were in when learning the information.
What is some research into retrieval failure?
Godden and baddely (1975)
What was the procedure and findings of godden and baddeley?
- Divers were required to learn words and then recall them either in the same setting they learnt them or a different setting; either on the BEACH or UNDERWATER.
Findings:
- When the recall environment was the same as the learning environment, recall was BETTER.
How does godden and baddeleys research support ( act as a strength) retrieval failure as a explanation of forgetting?
It is a strength as it suggests that the environment ACTED AS A CUE for recall and that the different environment of recall and learning caused forgetting to occur.
- Therefore increasing the INTERNAL VALIDITY of the study.
