Explanations for forgetting : Retrieval failure

Question 1

What is retrieval failure?

Answer 1

• Is a form of forgetting which occurs when we don’t have the necessary cues to access a memory.

Question 2

How does retrieval failure work?

Answer 2

• The memory is available but not accessible unless a suitable cue is provided.
• Cues are things that serve as reminders, retrieval failure affects our ability to remember information in LTM.

Question 3

What is the Encoding specificity principle?

Answer 3

• Tulving {1983} reviewed research into retrieval failure.
• he discovered a consistent pattern in findings
• if a cue is to help us recall information, it has to be present at encoding {when we learn the material} and retrieval {when we are recalling it}
• if the cues available at encoding and retrieval are different or if cues are entirely absent at retrieval, there will be some forgetting.
• Tulving summarised this pattern as the encoding specificity principle

Question 4

What are the two types of cues?

Answer 4

• Context dependent {external cues}
• State dependent forgetting {internal cues}