Retrieval Failure

Question 1

What is retrieval failure?

Answer 1

“Forgetting” due to insufficient cues

Question 2

What is the encoding specifity principle? (ESP) Who is it by?

Answer 2

1. Tulving (1983)
2. Recall is best when cues at learning match cues at recall
3. Absent cues = forgetting

Question 3

What are the two types of cues?

Answer 3

1. External cues (environment) causes context-dependent forgetting
2. Internal cues (physiological) causes state-dependent forgetting

Question 4

Outline one study into context-dependent forgetting.

Answer 4

1. Godden + Baddeley (1975)
2. Deep sea divers learned word lists underwater or on land then recalled underwater or on land
3. When environmental context of learning = recall, recall acc inc

Question 5

Outline one study into state-dependent forgetting.

Answer 5

1. Carter + Cassaday (1998)
2. PPts given anti-histamines - mild sedative state vs awake and alert
3. Learned word lists on drug vs sober, recall on drug vs sober
4. When internal state at learning = recall, recall acc inc

Question 6

Give one strength of the retrieval failure theory.

Answer 6

1. Supp by res evid
   - Godden + Baddeley, Carter + Cassaday
2. Shows r.f irl AND high control cond of lab - inc validity
3. Has practical applis
   - if difficult to remember smth, go back to the environment in which it was learned.

Question 7

Give 2 weaknesses of retrieval failure theory.

Answer 7

1. Context effects aren’t strong - Baddeley (1997)

• underwater vs on land = too much contrast of environment than what you would find irl
• exaggerates effects of r.f. - not valid

2. Context effects only appear w cert types of mem - Godden + Baddeley (1980)

• replicated 1st exp - recog words instead of recall
• no context depen effect
• t.f. pres/abs of cues only affects certain types of mem