Theories of Forgetting: Retrieval Failure

Question 1

Who proposed the retrieval failure theory of forgetting?

Answer 1

Tulving

Question 2

What are the main assumptions of the retrieval failure theory?

Answer 2

1.) Forgetting is due to the absence of cues/insufficient cues
2.) The memory is available but we cannot access it
3.) Cues are stored at the same time as memory/learning therefore if a cue is not present during recall you are unable to access the memory

Question 3

What is a cue?

Answer 3

A trigger or reminder for information to be retrieved

Question 4

What is the encoding specificity principle? (E.S.P.)

Answer 4

• Recall is most effective when cues are present during both encoding and retrieval (learning and recall)
• This includes being in the same emotional state (state) and environment (context)
• Proposed by Tulving

Question 5

What is a state cue?

Answer 5

• Internal cues related to a mental state
• E.g. if during learning you are sad and you are sad during recall, you are more likely to remember the information

Question 6

What is a context cue?

Answer 6

• External cues related to the environment
• E.g. if during learning you are in a classroom and during recall you are in the same classroom, you are more likely to remember the information

Question 7

Outline a study into retrieval failure (used for A03 paragraph supporting research)

Answer 7

• Godden and Baddeley (1975)
• Aim: To investigate the effects of context cues on recall - is recall better when learning and recall environment is the same
• Method: Lab experiment, 18 divers from the UK, independent groups design
• Procedure: Presented with list of words to learn and recall in one of the four conditions: (1) Learn on land, Recall on land (same context) (2) Learn on land, Recall under water (different context) (3) Learn underwater, Recall under water (same context) (4) Learn underwater, Recall on land (different context)
• Results: Mean recall for each condition: (1)=37, (2)=24, (3)=32, (4)=23
• Conclusion: recall is better when you recall something in the same environment/context it was learnt in

Question 8

What is one strength of the retrieval failure theory of forgetting?

Answer 8

1.) Real world application: via the cognitive interview, reinstate the context allows for better eyewitness testimonies therefore the theory is relied upon in society and can be applied to real world scenarios

Question 9

What are two limitations of the retrieval failure theory of forgetting?

Answer 9

1.) Issues with supporting research (Godden and Baddeley): lacks external validity due to the sample of male divers in the UK (ecological) and artificial environment, results cannot be generalised beyond the artificial lab setting and we should take caution using this study to support the theory

2.) Theory does not apply to all scenarios where we forget: Godden and Baddeley replicated the study using recognition task instead of free recall and found no effect of context dependent forgetting as performance was the same in all four conditions/contexts, therefore suggesting that retrieval failure only occurs when individuals are required to recall info in free recall test