Explanations for forgetting: Retrieval failure (AO1)

Question 1

What can cause retrieval failure?

Answer 1

A lack of cues.

Question 2

What is the encoding specificity principle?

Answer 2

Cues can help retrieval at encoding and retrieval. If cues available at encoding and retrieval are different then there is forgetting.

Question 3

What are the two types of cues?

Answer 3

Context dependent and state dependent.

Question 4

What is state depending forgetting?

Answer 4

State- dependent forgetting; recall depends on internal cue (e.g. feeling upset, being drunk).

Question 5

What two psychologists conducted a study on context dependent forgetting?

Answer 5

Godden and Baddeley

Question 6

Outline Godden and Baddeley’s study on context dependent forgetting:

Answer 6

Deep sea divers learnt word lists and later recalled them. 4 conditions: learn on land- recall on land, learn on land- recall underwater, learn underwater-recall on land and learn underwater-recall underwater.

Question 7

Outline Godden and Baddeley’s findings on study of context dependent forgetting:

Answer 7

Accurate recall was 40% lower in conditions 2 and 3 (mismatched) than 1 and 4 (matched conditions). Retrieval failure = due to absence of encoded context cues at time of recall.

Question 8

Outline Carter and Cassady’s study on state dependent forgetting:

Answer 8

Participants learnt list of words and recalled them later on. 4 conditions: learn on drug-recall on drug, learn when on drug-recall when not on drug, learn when not on drug-recall on drug and learn when not on drug-recall when not on drug.

Question 9

Outline Carter and Cassady’s findings on their study about state dependent forgetting:

Answer 9

Recall was worser in mismatched conditions than matched conditions. When cues at encoding where absent at retrieval, there is more forgetting.

Question 10

What is context dependent forgetting?

Answer 10

Context- dependent forgetting: recall depends on external cue, e.g. weather or a place.