Forgetting - Retrieval Failiure Flashcards
Retrieval failure
The inability to recall long-term memories because of inadequate or missing retrieval cues (aka tip of the tongue)
Encoding specificity principle
The idea that cues and contexts specific to a particular memory will be more effective in helping us recall it.
Context cues
Retrieval of information because you are in a similar context or environment as to when you learnt this information.
State cues
These refer to internal cues such as your emotional state when the memory was encoded. Being in the same emotional state can act as a trigger for the memory.
Context cue examples
- sitting an exam in the same room where you learnt the context for the exam
- smells associated with memories
State cue examples
- drunk or non drunk when learning and retrieving information
- entering an exam happy if you were happy when revising for it or learning it’s contents.
Godden and Baddeley (1975) A03
Researches using 18 divers, 40 unrelated words. 4 conditions to learn and recall: Sand/water S/S W/S W/W
Easier to recall in same place.
Goodwin et al (1969) A03
Investigated recall with drunk and sober participants (male).
Context: Sober/Drunk, S/S, D/S, D/D
Recall was best when drunk for words learned 24 hours earlier when drunk, whereas words learned while sober were best recalled when sober.
Real world application (+)
+ real world application of if you revise in a room you will sit an exam in, you are likely to do better due to the environmental context cues.
Evaluation (-)
- use of lab studies and word lists lowers ecological validity and lacks mundane realism as the scenarios are too controlled and unrealistic.
- retrieval cues do not always work as in studies, participants are learning word lists which is simple information but in real life, when learning complex associations a single cue is not enough.
