The forgetting curve

Question 1

Define: the forgetting curve

Answer 1

Graph showing the rate and amount of forgetting after learning that occurs after time; forgetting occurs most rapidly in the first 20 minutes, then moderately until the first hour passes and then very gradually over the next 31 days.

Question 2

What factors influence the forgetting curve?

Answer 2

• Time period for learning
• How well/meaningfully information is encoded
• Overlearning

Question 3

What facts do NOT influence the forgetting curve?

Answer 3

• Difficulty of material

* Intelligence of the learner.

Question 4

Who invented the learning curve? When?

Answer 4

1885, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus

Question 5

Describe the procedure Ebbinghaus used to measure the AMOUNT and RATE at which info is retained

Answer 5

He memorised a series of list (each containing 13 were trigrams) separately, until he could repeat a list perfectly twice.
Tested percentage recall for a list at various times after learning (20 mins, 1 hour, 8 hours, one day, 2 days, 6 days and 31 days)

Question 6

Why did Ebbinghaus use nonsense syllables/trigrams?

Answer 6

To reduce the influence of past experience on learning them by preventing associations from being made.

Question 7

percentage recall after 20 minutes?

Answer 7

58%

Question 8

percentage recall after 1 hour?

Answer 8

44%

Question 9

percentage recall after 8 hours?

Answer 9

34%

Question 10

Percentage recall after 6 days?

Answer 10

21%