forgetting = retrieval failure

Question 1

retrieval failure due to absence of cues

Answer 1

• forget things = bc we dont have right cues to help us rmb ,
• when we learn something = store cues with it , if cues are missing , feels like we’ve forgotten ,but the memory is still there we just can’t access them

Question 2

encoding specificity principle esp

Answer 2

• tulving
• studied rf, found patterns
• created esp which says

a cue helps u recall ONLY if it was there when we first learnt the info ( present at encoding) and when we try to remember it ( present at retrieval)

if the cues at learning and recalling are different, might forget

Question 3

types of cues

Answer 3

meaningful/non meaningful

meaningful - directly related to info
non- things present when learning but dont directly relate to memory

non e.g
context dependent forgetting = rmb better when we ‘re in the same place w learnt

state dependent forgetting = rmb better if were in the same mental/psychical state as when we learnt

so forgetting = retrieval failure, memory is still there , just need to find right cue for it

Question 4

research on context dependent forgetting

Answer 4

godden and baddeley 1975

• tested deep sea divers, see if learning on one enviro (land / underwater) affected ability to rmb in diff enviro
• learnt list of words, either under water/land
• had to recall words either in same place theyd learnt / different place

found-
- learning and recall enviro matched = recall better

didnt match = 40% lower

conclusion = forgetting happens bc external cues were different at time of recall

Question 5

research on state dependent forgetting

Answer 5

study -
tested if internal state effects memory ( how awake they felt)

meth-
ppt took antihistamines, made them bit drowsy
- learnt lists of words + passages of prose, on either antihistamines or normal
- later recalled info in same state/ diff

found
- when internal state at learning + recall matched = recall better
- when diff = memory was significantly worse

conclusion
-supports retrieval failure , when cues missing = forgetting increases

Question 6

strength , daily life

Answer 6

p- cues help us rmb things in daily life

e- baddeley pointed out, cues may not have big effect, but still matter, e.g when we go into another room to get sum, but forgot what we needed, as soon as u go back into the first room, you rmb

e- so when we struggle to rmb something, helps to think abt where we first learnt it

l- research on retrieval failure = useful , helps understand and use memory properly irl