Memory - forgetting : retrieval failure Flashcards
What is retrieval failure?
A lack of accessibility to info rather than availability - this could be due to insufficient cues
What types of cues are there?
Tulving argued that cues can be context dependent (environmental) or state dependent (emotional)
What is the encoding specificity principle (ESP)?
Tulving (1983) proposed the ESP which suggests that memory recall is most effective if info that was present at time of encoding is also present at time of recall/retrieval
If cues available at encoding and retrieval are different there will be some forgetting
What is context dependent forgetting?
Retrieval failure happens as the external environmental cues that were present at encoding aren’t present at retrieval
What is state dependent forgetting?
Retrieval failure happens as the internal emotional cues that were present at encoding aren’t present at recall
Context dependent forgetting: Procedure for Godden and Baddeley (1975)
Asked 18 divers to learn a list of words on land or in sea and asked them to recall the list in water or on land - creating 4 conditions
Context dependent forgetting: Findings for Godden and Baddeley (1975)
Accurate recall was 40% lower in non-matching conditions than matching, showing that when external cues are different at encoding and recall, retrieval is less likely
State dependent forgetting: Procedure used in Carter and Cassady (1998)
Asked 100 ppts. to learn a list of words in either normal state or drowsy state (anti-histamine). Then asked them to recall the list on drugs or with no drugs
State dependent forgetting: Findings from Carter and Cassady (1998)
Accurate recall was lower in non-matching encoding and recall conditions showing that when internal cues are different retrieval failure is more likely
What is a strength of the ESP? - Abundance of evidence supporting its reliability
===> Many studies consistently demonstrating phenomenon of cue dependent forgetting (Godden + Baddeley and Carter + Cassady). All conducted in various settings including lab experiment and naturalistic contexts. Concept of cue dependent forgetting widely reported in real-life experiences (people enter room with intention to get something and forget so return to previous room to prompt memory). Effects observed in lab experiments, despite potential limited ecological validity, align with everyday life experiences
What is a strength of the ESP? - Practical application in real-life contexts where memory recall is crucial
===> Example is potential utility for students preparing for exams. Studying in same environment where assessment will take place, may enhance ability to recall learned information during actual exam. Also, principle serves as foundation for techniques used in cognitive interviews, specifically ‘report everything’ and ‘reinstate the context’ so these elements yield beneficial outcomes compared to other components. Practical applications highlight usefulness of theory in real-world scenarios
What is a limitation of the ESP? - Significant difference in context is often required to have an effect on forgetting
===> Study conducted in Godden and Baddeley (1975) used extreme contextual difference of land and water and such drastic variations aren’t representative of everyday life situations and ecological validity may be limited. Baddeley (1997) argued that context effects aren’t robust in real world so unlikely to have substantial impact on memory performance
What is a limitation of the ESP? - Poses challenges when testing its validity due to potential issues with circular reasoning in experimental designs
===> Nairne (2002) criticised what he refers to as ‘myth of encoding-retrieval match’. Suggests when cue successfully triggers recall of a word, it’s assumed cue must have been encoded during initial learning phase. Conversely, if a cue fails to result in successful recall, assumed cue wasn’t encoded. Assumptions are inherently circular and cannot be directly tested so results obtained from such experiments remain correlational rather than establishing clear cause-and-effect relationship
