Forgetting: When memory lapses

Question 1

What are nonsense syllables?

Answer 1

nonsense syllables—consonant-vowel-consonant arrangements that do not correspond to words

Question 2

What is a forgetting curve?

Answer 2

forgetting curve,
graphs retention and forgetting over time

Question 3

Describe Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve for nonsense
syllables.

Answer 3

Ebbinghaus’s forgetting curve for nonsense
syllables. From his experiments on himself,
Ebbinghaus (1885) concluded that forgetting is
extremely rapid immediately after the original
learning and then levels off. Although this generalization
remains true, subsequent research
has shown that forgetting curves for nonsense
syllables are unusually stee

Question 4

What is retention?

Answer 4

Retention refers to the proportion
of material retained (remembered)

Question 5

What is a recall measure?

Answer 5

A recall
measure requires participants to reproduce information on their own without any
cues.

Question 6

What is a recognition measure?

Answer 6

A recognition measure of retention
requires participants to select previously learned information from an array of
options.

Question 7

What is a relearning measure?

Answer 7

A relearning measure
of retention requires a participant to memorize information a second
time to determine how much time or effort is saved by having learned it
before.

Question 8

What is pseudoforgetting (ineffective encoding)?

Answer 8

Pseudoforgetting is usually attributable to lack of attention.

Question 9

What does decay theory propose?

Answer 9

Decay theory proposes that forgetting occurs because memory
traces fade with time.

Question 10

What does interference theory propose?

Answer 10

Interference theory proposes that people forget information because of competition
from other material.

Question 11

What is retroactive interference?

Answer 11

Retroactive interference occurs when new information impairs the retention of
previously learned information

Question 12

What is proactive interference?

Answer 12

proactive interference occurs when previously learned information interferes
with the retention of new information

Question 13

What is the encoding specificiy principle?

Answer 13

The encoding specificity principle states that the value of
a retrieval cue depends on how well it corresponds to the memory code.

Question 14

What does repression refer to?

Answer 14

repression refers to
keeping distressing thoughts and feelings buried in the unconscious