explanation for forgetting: retrieval failure.

Question 1

define retrieval failure

Answer 1

form of forgetting. Occurs when we don’t have the necessary cues to access memory. Memory is available but not accessible unless a suitable cue is provided.

Question 2

what is retrieval failure due to

Answer 2

absence of cues.

Question 3

define absence of cues

Answer 3

when info is initially placed in memory, associated cues are stored at the same time

Question 4

what happened when the cues are not available at the time of retrieval

Answer 4

it may of appeared that information has been forgotten.

Question 5

define cues.

Answer 5

trigger of information that allows us to access memory. cues may be meaningful or may be indirectly linked by being encoded at the time of learning

Question 6

Who studied retrieval failure

Answer 6

Tulving (1983)

Question 7

what did Tulving do.

Answer 7

reviewed research into retrieval failure and discovered a consistent pattern to the findings.

Question 8

what was tulvings principle called

Answer 8

Encoding specificity principle (ESP)

Question 9

what dose the Encoding specificity principle state.

Answer 9

cues help retrieval if the same ones are present both

(1) at encoding (when we learn the material)

(2) at retrieval (when we are recalling it).

Question 10

what is a example of a meaningful cue.

Answer 10

the cue ‘STM’ may lead you to recall lots of material about short-term memory. Such cues are used in many mnemonic techniques.

Question 11

what is an example of non-meaningful cue.

Answer 11

(1) context-dependent forgetting – recall depends on an external cue
(e.g. weather or place)

(2) state-dependent forgetting – recall depends on an internal cue
(e.g. feeling upset, being drunk)

Question 12

who studied research into context-dependent forgetting.

Answer 12

Godden and Baddeley (1975)

Question 13

what was Godden and Baddeleys procedure

Answer 13

Deep-sea divers learned word lists and were later asked to recall them.

Question 14

what where the four conditions of Goddens and Baddeleys study

Answer 14

1: learn on land and recall on land

2: learn on land and recall underwater

3: learn underwater and recall on land

4: learn underwater and recall underwater

Question 15

what where Godden and Baddeleys findings

Answer 15

accurate recall was 40% lower in conditions 2 and 3 ), compared to conditions 1 and 4

Question 16

what where the conclusions of Godden and baddeleys study

Answer 16

in conditions 2 and 3, the external cues available at learning were different from the ones available at recall and this led to retrieval failure.

Question 17

who studied research into state-dependent forgetting

Answer 17

Carter and Cassaday (1998)

Question 18

what was Carter and Cassaday procedure

Answer 18

Participants learned lists of words/passages of prose and later recalled them.

Participants given antihistamine drugs which had a mild sedative effect, making the participants slightly drowsy.

This creates a different internal state from the ‘normal’ state of being awake and alert.

Question 19

what where Carter and Cassaday’s conditions

Answer 19

1: learn when on drug and recall when on drug

2: learn when on drug and recall when not on drug

3: learn when not on drug and recall when on drug

4: learn when not on drug and recall when not on drug

Question 20

what where Carter and Cassaday’s findings

Answer 20

Recall was significantly worse in conditions 2 and 3 where there was a mismatch between internal state at learning compared with conditions 1 and 4.

concluded that when the cues at encoding are absent at retrieval there is more forgetting.