Memory - explanations for forgetting

Question 1

forgetting

Answer 1

the inability to retrieve information from the LTM.

Question 2

interference

Answer 2

one memory disturbs ability to recall another, results in forgetting or distortion. more likely to happen if the memories are similar.

Question 3

pro-active interference

Answer 3

forgetting that occurs when older memories disrupt the recall of newer ones.

Question 4

retro-active interference

Answer 4

forgetting that occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older ones.

Question 5

what are the factors affecting interference?

Answer 5

similarity - more similar - more interference
time sensitivity - less time between both pieces of info - more interference

Question 6

what was Schmidt et al’s research on interference as an explanation of forgetting? (2000)

Answer 6

tested pts on memories of street names in the area they grew up in. people who moved more since then could recall less street names. this shows retroactive interference

Question 7

what was McGeoch and McDonald’s research on interference as an explanation of forgetting? (1931)

Answer 7

participants had to learn a list of words until they could recall with 100% accuracy.
they then learned a new list.
the recall of the original list depended on the nature of the 2nd. synonyms produce the worst recall.
(this shows that interference is strongest when memories are similar.)

Question 8

evaluation of explanations for forgetting?

Answer 8

+ evidence from lab experiments = high internal validity
+ real life studies (Schmidt) = everyday activities increases ecological validity
- low external validity because lab studies are using artificial stimuli and lack mundane realism

Question 9

what is retrieval failure?

Answer 9

information can’t be accessed due to the lack of the right cues. when information is coded into memory, so are cues

Question 10

who proposed the encoding specificity principle and what is it?

Answer 10

Tulving. to be a helpful, a cue must be: present at encoding and retrieval. meaningful cues are most helpful (e.g mnemonics).

Question 11

context-dependent forgetting

Answer 11

relies on external cues

Question 12

evidence for context dependent forgetting?

Answer 12

Godden and Baddeley’s deep sea diver experiment. learn on land, recall on land. learn underwater, recall on land. accurate recall was 40% lower in non-matching conditions.

Question 13

state-dependent forgetting

Answer 13

relies on internal cues

Question 14

evidence for state dependent forgetting?

Answer 14

same as deep see diver experiment but on and off antihistamine drugs. significantly worse recall with mismatch internal conditions. when cues are absent -> more forgetting

Question 15

proof of cues aiding memory?

Answer 15

Aggleton and Waskett (1999).
viking museum- horrible smells. context dependent
- recreated smells
- helped remember details about visit to museum even years after

Question 16

evaluation of retrieval failure studies

Answer 16

+ extensive studies that have high external validity because they use real life situations
+ real life proof - retrieval cues do help everyone in everyday life
- are the effects of context on retrieval as significant as research suggests? context has to be very different to see big difference in retrieval
- ESP is hard to provide evidence for
- context dependent forgetting might link to type of memory rather than the context