Explanations for forgetting - Context etc

Question 1

What is the encoding specificity principle and who was it proposed by?

Answer 1

The encoding specificity principle is the idea that the same specific cues that were present at learning have to be avaliable at recall

Question 2

What are 2 types of retrieval failure

Answer 2

• Context dependent forgetting
  -State dependent forgetting

Question 3

What is context dependent forgetting

Answer 3

At recall, we lack the EXTERNAL cues that were present at learning(encoding)

Question 4

What is state dependent forgetting

Answer 4

At recall, we lack the INTERNAL cues that were present at learning (encoding)
Physiological (under influence of alcohol)
Psychological - mood and emotions at the time the memory was formed

Question 5

Supporting evidence for context state forgetting (1)

Answer 5

• Godden and Baddeley (1975)
  Scuber divers were tested on their ability to recall words from different conditions (same context so under water or land or a mix)
  They found that the conditions in which the context was the same recall was better supporting the encoding specificity principle

Question 6

Supporting evidence for context state forgetting(2)

Answer 6

Grant (1998)
- pps had to learn in conditions with conditions and recall in the same conditions or different (silent or loud)
The ability to retrieve information was better in conditions where context matched

Question 7

Research into state dependent forgetting (1)

Answer 7

• They wanted to see if taking an antihistamine (changing the physiological state) would affect recall. Recall was better if they learnt the list recall in the same internal state that they were in when learning
  Retrieval failure occurred when they were in different INTERNAL states as to when they encoding the information

Question 8

Research into state dependent forgetting (2)

Answer 8

Lowe (1983)

pps were asked to memorise a map either sober or under the effects of alcohol they were then tested in the same or different states, they found greater recall when internal states was the same in encoding.

Question 9

Evaluating the research of retrieval failure :(

Answer 9

The differences in the conditions in context and state dependent forgetting are very dramatic differences eg sober or drunk or medicated or non medicated. These are not representative or the day to day differences that we encounter , this explanation doesn’t account for why we forget in similar condtions

Question 10

Practical application for retrieval failure

Answer 10

practical application for cognitive interviews, cognitive interviews use ‘reinstate the context’ to help the eye witness go back to the context in their mind
this has improved the accuracy and amount of information that ewt can remember.