Retrieval Failure

Question 1

What is the reason we forget things?

Answer 1

Insufficient cues

Question 2

When we encode a new memory what else do we store?

Answer 2

The information that occurred around it (cues) such as where we were and the way we felt

Question 3

Why might we not be able to recall or remember information?

Answer 3

We aren’t in a similar situation to when the memory was originally stored

Question 4

What happens if the cues are not present when we try to recall information?

Answer 4

We find it difficult to retrieve the memory not necessarily because we’ve forgotten it we just don’t have the cues to help us access the memory

Question 5

Who put forward retrieval failure?

Answer 5

Tulving

Question 6

If a cue is to help us recall information what does it have to be?

Answer 6

Present at both encoding and retrieval

Question 7

What will happen if cues at encoding and retrieval are different or absent?

Answer 7

Forgetting

Question 8

What is the encoding specificity principle?

Answer 8

The greater similarity between the encoding event and the retrieval event, the greater likelihood of recalling the original memory

Question 9

How are some cues linked to material?

Answer 9

In a meaningful way which helps remember it

Question 10

What are the 2 types of cue dependant forgetting?

Answer 10

• context-dependant forgetting (external environmental causes)
• state - dependant forgetting ( internal cues e.g emotions)

Question 11

What was the procedure of Godden and Baddeleys’ context - dependant forgetting study?

Answer 11

Divers learned lists of words either underwater or on land and were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land

Question 12

What were the 4 conditions of Godden and Baddeleys’ context-dependant study?

Answer 12

1. Learn on land - recall on land
2. Learn on land - recall underwater
3. Learn underwater - recall on land
4. Learn underwater - recall underwater

Question 13

What were the findings of Godden and Baddeley’s context-dependant study?

Answer 13

• Accurate recall was 40% lower in non-matching conditions
• External cues available at learning were different from the ones at recall which led to retrieval failure

Question 14

What was the procedure for Cater and Cassadys’ state - dependant forgetting study?

Answer 14

1.Gave an anti-histamine to ppts which had a mild sedative effect making ppts drowsy
2. This creates an internal physiological state different from the ‘normal’ state of being alert and awake
3. Ppts had to learn lists of words and passages of prose and recall the information

Question 15

What were the 4 groups in Carter and Cassadys’ state-dependant forgetting study?

Answer 15

1. Learn on drug- recall when on it
2. Learn on drug - recall when not on it
3. Learn not on drug - recall when not on drug
4. Learn not on drug - recall on it

Question 16

What were the findings of Carter and Cassadys’ state dependant forgetting study?

Answer 16

1. In mismatch conditions between internal state at learning and recall performance on memory test was significantly worse than
2. When cues are absent there is more forgetting

Question 17

Evaluation point: real-world application

Answer 17

1. One strength is that retrieval cues help overcome forgetting in everyday situations
2. When we can’t remember things we should make the effort to recall the environment we learnt it in
   3 Shows how research can remind us of strategies we use in the real world to improve our recall

Question 18

Evaluation point: Research support

Answer 18

1. Impressive range of research supports retrieval failure as an explanation
2. Studies by Godden and Baddeley and Carter and Cassady show that a lack of relevant cues at recall can lead to context-dependant or state-dependant forgetting in everyday
3. Memory researchers Eyesneck and Keane argue retrieval failure is the main reason for forgetting from LTM
4. Evidence shows retrieval failure occurs in real world situations as well as in highly controlled lab conditions

Question 19

Evaluation point; recall versus recognition

Answer 19

1. Context effects may depend on the type of memory being tested
2. Godden and Baddeley replicated their underwater experiment but used a recognition test instead of recall
3. When recognition was texted their was no context-dependant effect, performance was the same in all 4 conditions
4. Retrieval failure has limited explanation for forgetting because it only applies when a person has to recall info rather than recognise it