Retrieval Failure due to Absence of Cues

Question 1

What is Retrieval Failure?

Answer 1

When forgetting occurs in the absence of appropriate retrieval cues

Question 2

What happens to information when it is initially put into memory?

Answer 2

• Data associated with this information is stored at the same time
• If retrieval cues are not available at time of recall it may seem like you have forgotten info but you just cannot access it at that time

Question 3

What are Context Cues?

Answer 3

• Environment in which material is learnt can act as retrieval cues
• If you recall information in the same environment that you learned it then your recall will be better
• If you are not in the same context at retrieval as you were at coding then forgetting can occur

Question 4

What are State Cues?

Answer 4

• When an individuals physical state can affect recall
• Research shows that recall is facilitated if people maintain a similar physical state at recall when the information is coded
• If you are not in the same physical state at recall as you were when you learned the information you may fail to access the information

Question 5

Strength of context cues - Abernethy

Answer 5

• Tested pp’s recall using mixture of familiar and unfamiliar instructors and rooms
• pp’s tested by familiar instructor in familiar room performed best because instructor acted as retrieval cues

Question 6

Strength of context cues - Godden and Baddeley

Answer 6

• 18 divers to recall 36 unrelated 2-3 syllable words
• Asked divers to learn and recall word lists on either dry land or underwater
• Those who learnt and recalled in the same context performed better as there were retrieval cues to help them remember

Question 7

strengths of State Cues?

Answer 7

Darley - Found pp’s who hid money in a large warehouse under the influence of cannabis were more likely to recall the hiding spot when in a similar drugged state

Question 8

Strength of context cues- Practical

Answer 8

Students should try and revise in the same rooms they are sitting their exams in.

Question 9

Weakness of Retrieval cues

Answer 9

• Baddeley (1975)
  
  • Argues influence of retrieval cues is not very strong
  • IRL we often recall something in a different context to which we learnt it
  • e.g Students do not take their GCSE exams in the classroom where they learnt the information for the exam