Explanations for forgetting: retrieval failure

Explanations for forgetting: retrieval failure

1. retrieval failure theory

   • basics
     • one reason why we forget is down to insufficient cues
       • when we store info we also store cues
         • if cues aren't there then we might not be able to remember due to retrieval failure
   • encoding specificity principle (ESP)
     • Tulving
       • if a cue is going to help us it needs to be there at the encoding and the recall
         • if cues are different at either time there will be some forgetting
           • some are linked in a meaningful way - e.g. mnemonic techniques
             • others are not meaningful
               • context dependant
               • state dependant
     • context dependant forgetting
       • Godden and Baddeley - scuba divers
         • procedure - learn one list of words and recall
           • either
             • learn on land - recall on land
               • learn on land - recall underwater
                 • learn underwater - recall on land
                   • learn underwater - recall underwater
         • findings
           • accurate recall was 40% lower in on matching conditions
             • the cues were different which led to retrieval failure
     • state dependant forgetting
       • Carter and Cassaday - drugs
         • procedure - learn one list of words and recall
           • either
             • learn on drugs - recall off
               • learn on drugs - recall on
                 • learn off drugs - recall on
                   • learn off drugs - recall off
         • findings
           • when there was a mismatch between internal state at learning and recall - test results were worse

2. evaluation

   • supporting evidence
     • lots of research to support retrieval failure
       • one researcher - Eysenck - said it is the main reason for forgetting in LTM
   • questioning context effects
     • the two places that you learn have to be very different for there to begin to be any effect
       • you can't get much difference between land and sea
         • doing it in different rooms aren't different enough
   • recall vs recognition
     • context effect may be related to the kind of memory being tested
       • did the diving study again but used a recognition test instead of recall
         • had to say whether they recognised a word being read from a list
           • when recognition was tested there was o context dependant effect
             • the results were the same in all four conditions
               • limitation - cues only have effect when tested in a certain way

3. evaluation +

   • problems with the encoding specificity principle
     • can ESP be tested - no
       • we assume that if a cue was shown then
         • if you do remember then the cue was encoded
         • if you don't it wasn't
           • but we have no way of knowing
   • real life application
     • for example when you go upstairs to get something and you forget what you were looking for
       • but if you go back downstairs you remember what it was you were looking for
         • if you have forgotten remember were you where - visualise it
           • used in cognitive interviews and eyewitness testimonies - go back to the scene