Forgetting: Retrieval Failure

Question 1

What is Retrieval Failure?

Answer 1

Retrieval failure is the idea that the reason people forget things is because of insufficient cues. When memories are stored, associated cues are stored at the same time. If cues aren’t available for a memory then you may think that you have forgotten it but it’s actually due to retrieval failure.

Question 2

Tulving (1983) - Encoding Specificity Principle (ESP)

Answer 2

If a cue helps us recall information, then it has to be present at encoding and retrieval of the memory. A lack of cues when remembering a memory leads to forgetting.

Question 3

What are the 2 types of forgetting?

Answer 3

1. Context Dependent Forgetting
2. State Dependent Forgetting

Question 4

Context Dependent Forgetting

Answer 4

Memory performance is reduced when an individual’s environment differs from encoding to retrieval than if the two environments were the same.

Question 5

Case Study - Godden and Baddeley (1975) - Aim

Answer 5

Examine the effects of external cues on forgetting

Question 6

Case Study - Godden and Baddeley (1975) - Procedure

Answer 6

• Sample of 18 participants.
• They were asked to learn information either underwater or on land
• They were asked to recall the same information either underwater or on land
• The 4 conditions:
  1) Learn on land - recall on land
  2) Learn underwater - recall underwater
  3) Learn on land - recall underwater
  4) Learn underwater - recall on land

Question 7

Case Study - Godden and Baddeley (1975) - Findings

Answer 7

Accurate recall was 40% lower in the conditions where their learning and recall environment didn’t match.

Question 8

Case Study - Godden and Baddeley (1975) - Conclusion

Answer 8

Environmental cues during learning and recall are important in forgetting.

Question 9

State dependent forgetting

Answer 9

State dependent forgetting occurs when your mood or physiological state during recall is different from when you were learning.

Question 10

Case Study - Carter and Cassaday (1998) - Aim

Answer 10

Examine the effects of internal cues on forgetting

Question 11

Case Study - Carter and Cassaday (1998) - Procedure

Answer 11

• Sample of 48 participants.
• Participants were given antihistamine drugs creating an internal physiological state of drowsiness different from a normal awake and alert state.
• They were asked to learn a list of words and prose
• They then recalled it in one of the 4 conditions:
  1) Learn on the drug - recall on the drug
  2) Learn off the drug - recall off the drug
  3) Learn on the drug - recall off the drug
  4) Learn off the drug - recall on the drug

Question 12

Case Study - Carter and Cassaday (1998) - Findings

Answer 12

Accurate recall was worse when there was a mismatch of internal state when learning and when recalling.

Question 13

Case Study - Carter and Cassaday (1998) - Conclusion

Answer 13

Internal cues must be present at both the point of learning and recall for accurate recall.