Memory: Explanations for forgetting Flashcards
What are the 2 explanations for forgetting?
interference
retrieval failure
What does interference mean?
when 2 memories become confused resulting in forgetting one or both pieces of information
What are the 2 types of interference and what do they mean?
proactive-when old learning and memories prevent the recall of new memories and info
retroactive-when new learning and memories prevent the recall of old memories and info
When is interference more likely to happen?
When is interference less likely to happen?
more likely when the 2 pieces of information are similar
less likely when theres a gap between instances of learning
What is a strength of the interference explanation?
(who provides supporting evidence??)
+ theres evidence support from McGeoh and McDonald in 1931
-ppts were given a list of 10 words to learn and then learnt a new list
L1-synonyms of OG list , L2-nonsense syllables , L3- 3 digit numbers
they then had to recall the OG list , they found that 12% recalled correctly for L1 , 26% for L2 and 37% for L3
-this shows interference is more likely when memories are similar
What is another strength of the interference explanation?
(more supporting evidence , from who?)
+there is evidence that interference occurs in RL
-Schmidt (2000) found that the more times a ppt had moved house the more street names they forgot
-supports retroactive interference and suggests the explanation can account for forgetting in RL
What are the 2 weaknesses of the interference explanation?
-the artificial nature of lab experiments
the studies mainly used word lists and these don’t reflect all things learnt in RL so the explanation lacks external validity
-other explanations
retrieval failure , suggests the explanation isn’t complete
What does retrieval failure mean?
when info is available but cant be accessed due to the absence of appropriate cues
What is a cue?
When do they improve recall?
a trigger of info that allows u to access a memory
-when recall is in the same context as learning
What are the three different types of cues and how can they cause forgetting?
context-when the external environment is different at recall
state-when internal environment is different at recall
organisation-forgetting is more likely if material is disorganised
What is a strength of the retrieval failure explanation?
(supporting evidence , but for which types of cues?)
+there is evidence to support the role of context and state
Context-Godden and Baddeley 1975
tested forgetting in deep sea divers by giving them a list to recall either in the same context as learning or a different one and they found recall was 40% lower when context was different
State-Overton 1972
ppts learned material drunk/sober and found that recall was worse when internal state was different at recall
-these increase the external validity of the explanation
What is a further strength of the retrieval failure explanation?
+it has practical apps
it has been used to improve eye witness testimony accounts as reinstating the context is a key principle of the cognitive interview , this further increases the external validity
What are the 2 limitations of the retrieval failure explanation?
-the environment has to be very different at recall to result in forgetting
-testing in a different room is unlikely to have an effect so may not be applicable to every day instances of forgetting
-other explanations
