Retrieval Failure

Question 1

What is context dependent forgetting ?

Answer 1

Recall is better when it occurs in the same place/environment in which info is learnt. When environment changes, the cues are lost and so forgetting is more likely.

Question 2

What is state dependant forgetting?

Answer 2

Recall is better when individual is in the same state of mind when info is learnt. When persons mood or mental state changes it increases the likelihood of forgetting

Question 3

Explain Godden and Baddeley study on scuba divers?

Answer 3

18 scuba divers were asked to learn a list of words. Half learnt list on land other learnt it under water. Then tested divers ability to recall list either underwater or on land.

Question 4

Explain Godwin et al study. State dependant study

Answer 4

Asked male volunteers to remember a list of words when they were either drunk or sober. Before recall half the participants in each group were asked to enter the alternative state for counterbalancing. Recall scores showed that those in the drunk condition always performed worse than the sober condition. Those who had been drunk at the time of learning recalled more when drunk for a second time than those who had sobered up before recall.