Retrieval failure

Question 1

retrieval failure

Answer 1

• argues that forgetting occurs in the absence of appropriate retrieval cues
• when info is initially placed in memory, data is associated w/ this info is stored at the same time
• if these retrieval cues aren’t available at the time of recall = appears as if forgotten, BUT only forgotten it at the time

Question 2

context cues

Answer 2

• the environment in which material is learnt can act as retrieval cues
• recall will be better if you recall in the same environment that you learned in
• if not, forgetting can occur

Question 3

state cues

Answer 3

• an individual’s physical state e.g. mood, can affect their recall
• recall is facilitated if people have a similar physical state at recall as when the info was coded
• otherwise there may be failure in accessing the info - forgetting may occur

Question 4

disad of retrieval failure

Answer 4

• Baddeley argues that the influence of retrieval failure isn’t actually very strong
• in real life, we often recall something in a different context to where we learnt it
• e.g. students don’t often take their GCSE exams in the classroom where they learnt the info, they need for that exam

Question 5

instructor + teaching rooms - ads of retrieval failure

Answer 5

• a psych demonstrated the importance of context-dependent cues
• tested parts’ recall using a mixture of familiar + unfamiliar instructors + teaching rooms
  = parts tested by a familiar instructor, in a familiar room, performed the best
  = room + instructor acted as retrieval cues

Question 6

divers - ads of retrieval failure

Answer 6

• Godden + Baddeley also demonstrated the importance of context-dependent cues
• asked divers to learn + recall word lists on either dry land or underwater
  = results showed that words learnt + recalled in the SAME CONTEXT were better remembered
  = there were retrieval cues to help them remember the words

Question 7

cannabis warehouse - ads of retrieval failure

Answer 7

• psych showed the importance of state-dependent cues
• found that parts who hid money in a large warehouse while under the influence of cannabis
• were more likely to recall the hiding place when in a similar drugged state

Question 8

practical applications - ads of retrieval failure

Answer 8

• retrieval failure has practical applications
• whenever possible, students should learn/ revise in the room in which they will take their final exams
  = context-dependent cues