Retrieval Failure

Question 1

What is retrieval failure?

Answer 1

• when people forget information due to insufficient cues

Question 2

What is the encoding specificity principal?

Answer 2

• proposed by Tulving (1983) and it states that a cue needs to be both present at encoding and present at retrieval
• if cues available at encoding and retrieval are different then some forgetting will happen

Question 3

What are 2 types of non meaningful cues?

Answer 3

• context dependent forgetting = recall depends of external cues (environment
• state dependent forgetting = recall depends on internal cues (emotions)

Question 4

What is research on context dependent forgetting?

Answer 4

• Baddely (1975) asked divers to learn a list of words either underwater or on land and then asked them to recall these words in either condition
• accurate recall was 40% lower in non-matching conditions as the external cues at learning were different than at recall

Question 5

What is research on state dependent forgetting?

Answer 5

• Carter and Cassaday (1998) have antihistamine to participants which made them slightly drowsy and asked participants to learn list either of or on drug and recall list either of or on drug
• where conditions where not matched there was worse recall

Question 6

What are 2 strengths of retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting?

Answer 6

• Strength that retrieval cues can be used in everyday life, like forgetting what you came to the shop for but remembering when you are home again - applicable
• Strength of research support from Baddely and Carter and Cassaday, between them show context dependant forgetting and state dependent forgetting - reliable

Question 7

What are 2 limitations of retrieval failure as an explanation of forgetting?

Answer 7

• Limitation that context effects may depend on type of memory, Baddely replicated underwater experiment but words were read to them and results were different that original - only applies to certain types - lacking validity and application
• limitation of problems with esp, only explains forgetting when conditions are similar - too simplistic and lacking validity