Paper 1 - Memory - Topic 2 - Explanations For Forgetting: Retrieval Failure Flashcards
2.6 What is a primary reason people forget information?
Insufficient cues
Retrieval failure occurs when cues available during learning are not accessible during recall
2.6 What does the encoding specificity principle state?
A cue must be present at both encoding and retrieval to be helpful
If cues differ or are absent at retrieval, forgetting may occur
2.6 What are the two examples of non-meaningful cues in memory recall?
Context-dependent forgetting
State-dependent forgetting
2.6 What did Duncan Godden and Alan Baddeley (1975) study?
The effects of environmental context on memory recall in deep-sea divers
They examined how learning underwater or on land affected recall under marching or non-matching conditions
2.6 What were the four conditions in Godden and Baddeley’s experiment?
Learn on land - recall on land
Learn underwater - recall on land
Learn on land - recall underwater
Learn underwater - recall underwater
2.6 What was the conclusion of Godden and Baddeley’s study regarding accurate recall?
Accurate recall was 40% lower in non-matching conditions
This indicated that different external cues led to retrieval failure
2.6 What did Sara Carter and Helen Cassaday (1998) investigate?
The impact of internal psychological states on memory recall
Participants learned while on antihistamines and recalled in varying states
2.6 What were the four conditions in Carter and Cassaday’s experiment?
Learn on drug - recall when on drug
Learn not on drug - recall when on drug
Learn on drug - recall when not on drug
Learn not on drug - recall when not on drug
2.6 What was found regarding performance on memory tests in mismatched internal states?
Performance was significantly worse
Mismatched states during learning and recall increased forgetting
2.6 What is one strength of retrieval cues in everyday situations? (AO3)
They can help overcome some forgetting
Cues remind individuals of learned information, aiding recall
This shows how research can remind us of strategies we use in the real world to improve our recall
2.6 What do Eysenck and Keane (2010) argue about retrieval failure? (AO3)
It is perhaps the main reason for forgetting from LTM
Their perspective is supported by various studies indicating the role of cues
This evidence shows that retrieval failure occurs in real-world situations as well as in the highly controlled conditions in the lab
2.6 What is Baddeley’s counterpoint regarding context effects? (AO3)
Context effects are not very strong in everyday life
Significant differences between contexts are required to observe an effect
This means that retrieval failure due to lack of contextual cues may not actually explain that much on everyday forgetting
2.6 What limitation did Godden and Baddeley (1980) find when using a recognition test? (AO3)
No context-dependent effect was observed
Performance was the same across all conditions when recognition was tested
Suggests that retrieval failure is a limited explanation, because it only applies when a person has to recall information rather than recognise it
2.6 What is a problem with the encoding specificity principle? (AO3)
It is circular and based on assumptions
Difficulty in determining if a cue has been encoded independently
