memory: explanations for forgetting

Question 1

what is interference

Answer 1

forgetting because one memory blocks another/ 2 pieces of info conflict with each other resulting in forgetting or distortion of memory

Question 2

what is proactive interferance

Answer 2

when an old memory disrupts the recall of a new memory

Question 3

what is retroactive interferance

Answer 3

when a new memory disrupts the recall of an older memory

Question 4

effects of similarity on interferance

Answer 4

interferance is worse/more likely when the memories are simillar

Question 5

Mc Geoch and McDonald study on retroactive interference - procedure

Answer 5

(1931) studied retroactive interferance by changing the amount of similarity between 2 sets of materials.
participants had to learn a list of words until they they could remember them, then learn a new list.
The 2nd list was either: synonyms, antonyms, unrelated words, nonsense syllables, 3digit numbers, or no new list.
they then had to recall the original list

Question 6

Mc Geoch and McDonald study on retroactive interference - findings

Answer 6

when participants recalled the 1st list of words, more similar material for the 2nd list resulted in worse recall of the 1st list.
Shows interference is the strongest when the memories are similar

Question 7

interference: evaluation - lab study evidence

Answer 7

many lab experiments have been done on interference as an explanation for forgetting, and have consistent results (explain further in assessment) - strength because lab experiments are highly controlled so its likely interference is a valid explanation

Question 8

interference: evaluation - artificial materials

Answer 8

there is a greater chance interference will be demonstrated in the lab than in real life because the use of artificial tasks like remembering lists of words is very different to real-life situations (and the info often has no value/meaning to the participants).

Question 9

what is retrieval failure

Answer 9

a form of forgetting that occurs when the necessary cues to access memory aren’t present - the memory is available but not accessible without the suitable cues

Question 10

what is the encoding specificity principle

Answer 10

states that for a cue to help us recall info it must be present at the time of encoding and retrieval.
If the cues present at the time of encoding and at retrieval are different, there will be some forgetting.

Question 11

what is a cue for memory

Answer 11

a ‘trigger’ of info that allows us to access memory. They can be meaningful (e.g. mnemonic), or indirectly linked.
Can be external or internal

Question 12

what is context-dependant forgetting

Answer 12

when forgetting occurs because the environment during recall of info is different to the environment at the time of encoding the info.
(external cues aren’t present)

Question 13

what is state dependant forgetting

Answer 13

when forgetting occurs because the internal state during recall of info is different to the internal state at the time of encoding the info. (internal cues aren’t present)

Question 14

context-dependant forgetting: name the study

Answer 14

Godden and Baddeley (1975) -

Question 15

context dependant forgetting: Godden and Baddeley (1975) - procedure

Answer 15

divers learned a list of words and recalled them in one of 4 conditions:
learn on land - recall on land
learn on land - recall underwater
learn underwater - recall on land
learn underwater - recall underwater

Question 16

context dependant forgetting: Godden and Baddeley (1975) - findings

Answer 16

accurate recall was 40% lower in the non-conditions than the matching conditions.
- the external cues available at encoding where different to the ones at recall which led to retrieval failure

Question 17

state-dependant forgetting: name the study

Answer 17

Carter and Cassaday (1998)

Question 18

state-dependant forgetting: Carter and Cassaday (1998) - procedure

Answer 18

the participants had to learn and recall a list of words in one of 4 conditions.
Learn on drug - recall on drug
Learn on drug - recall not on drug
learn not on drug - recall on drug
learn not on drug - recall not on drug
- the drug was anti-histamines, which have a mild sedative effect, so they have a different internal physiological state from normal.

Question 19

state-dependant forgetting: Carter and Cassaday (1998) - findings

Answer 19

when there was a difference between internal state at learning and recall, recall was significantly worse.
so when cues are absent, there is more forgetting

Question 20

retrieval failure: evaluation - supporting evidence

Answer 20

there is a lot research support for retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting.
- this is a strength because more supporting evidence increases the validity of this explanation - especially because research was done in real-life situations as well as lab studies

Question 21

retrieval failure: evaluation - questioning context effects

Answer 21

Baddeley argued that context-effects are not very strong in real life, because contexts have to be very different for it to have an effect.
- this is a limitation because it means real-life applications of retrieval failure due to context cues don’t explain much forgetting.