Retrieval Failure

Retrieval Failure

1. AO1:

   • The reason that people forget information is because there are insufficient cues. When information is placed in memory, their associated cues are stored at the same time. If these cues are not available at the time of recall, then there is an appearance that the information has been forgotten. This theory suggests that the information is still available for recall, but it cannot be accessed until the correct cues are in place.

2. Encoding Specificity Principle

   • Made by Tulving (1983)
   • This states that a cue is going to help us remember information; it has to be present during encoding (when we learn the information) and at retrieval (recall).
     • For example, if you revise at college, you are more likely to retrieve the information that you are if you revise at home, as the college will act as a cue for retrieval because the surroundings were there during encoding.

3. Context Dependant Forgetting

   • This refers to external cues that are different when encoding information and when retrieving it. This is illustrated in to example above (college vs home revision)

4. State Dependant Forgetting

   • This refers to internal cues (states of awareness) that are different during encoding information and retrieving it. An example is encoding information while under the influence of alcohol, only to forget it the next day.