Memory - Retrieval Failure (Forgetting) Flashcards
What is retrieval failure?
Retrieval failure is a form of forgetting. It occurs when we don’t have the necessary cues to access memory. The memory is available but not accessible unless a suitable cue is provided.
What is a cue?
A cue is a “trigger” of information that allows us to access a memory. Cues may be meaningful or indirectly linked by being encoded at the time of learning. For example, cues may be external (environmental context) or internal (mood or degree of drunkenness).
What is the encoding specificity principle (ESP)?
Endel Tulving (1983) suggested the encoding specificity principle (ESP), which states that a cue is most helpful when it is present both at encoding and retrieval. If the cues are different, or absent, forgetting may occur.
What is context-dependent forgetting?
Context-dependent forgetting occurs when the external context at learning and recall differs. Research by Godden and Baddeley (1975) showed divers performed better when learning and recalling words in the same environment (land or underwater).
What is state-dependent forgetting?
State-dependent forgetting occurs when the internal state at learning and recall differs. Carter and Cassaday (1998) found participants recalled information better when in the same state, e.g., on or off anti-histamines.
What is one evaluation point for retrieval failure?
Supporting evidence strengthens the retrieval failure explanation. Studies by Godden and Baddeley (1975) and Carter and Cassaday (1998) demonstrate how cues improve recall. Such findings increase the validity of the explanation and its application to real life memory.
What is another evaluation point for retrieval failure?
Context effects are questioned for their everyday relevance. Baddeley (1997) argued that environmental differences must be extreme (e.g., land vs. underwater) to significantly impact memory, suggesting limited real-life application.
What is a limitation involving recall versus recognition?
Godden and Baddeley (1980) found that the context effect only occurs with recall, not recognition. In their study, recognition performance was the same in all contexts. This suggests that cues primarily affect recall tasks.
What is a real-life application of retrieval failure?
The encoding specificity principle is applied in the cognitive interview to improve eyewitness testimony by recreating the original learning context, increasing accuracy and effectiveness of memory retrieval.
