5. Explanations for forgetting

    Cards (17)

    • What is the Interference Theory?
      • Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
      • Occurs when information that is similar in format gets in the way of the information that someone is trying to recall
    • Why is forgetting thought to occur?
      We cannot access the information, even though it is thought to be available
    • What is proactive interference?
      When older information prevents the recall of newer information
    • What is retroactive interference?
      When newer information gets in the way of trying to recall older information
    • Who carried out research into retroactive interference?

      McGeoch and McDonald
    • Describe McGeoch and McDonalds research into retroactive interference
      • Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them 100%
      • Had to learn another list (there were 6 conditions)
      • Synonyms, antonyms, unrelated words, nonsense syllables, 3 digits, no new list
      • Recall of original list was dependent on the second list. Synonyms lists had the worst recall
      • Inference is strongest when memories are similar
    • Explanations for forgetting: Interference theory evaluation
      • Research support: Rugby players (Baddeley and Hitch)
      • Interference = more likely to be demonstrated in labs than real life = artificial stimuli
      • Experience of learning doesn't represent real life
    • What is the Retrieval Failure Theory?

      • Forgetting in LTM is due to a lack of access to a memory rather than the availability of a memory
      • People forget due to a lack of cues (can be meaningful or may be indirectly linked to being encoded at the time of learning)
    • What is a cue?

      A trigger of information, allowing us to access a memory
    • What can help facilitate the recall of LTM?

      • When info is initially placed in memory, associated cues are made at the same time
      • If the cues aren't available at the time of recall, info appears as if it has been forgotten i.e. context and state dependent forgetting
    • What is Context Dependent Thinking?
      Form of forgetting when recall occurs in a different external setting to coding
    • What is State Dependent Thinking?

      Form of forgetting when recall occurs in a different internal setting to coding
    • Who researched into cue-dependent thinking?
      Godden and Baddeley
    • Describe Godden and Baddeley's research into cue dependent forgetting
      • Divers learned a list of word either on land or underwater and were asked to recall on land or underwater
      • 4 conditions
      • In conditions 1 and 4, where learning and recall conditions matched, recall was 40% higher than in the non matching conditions
      • Concluded that external cues available at learning help trigger memories if they're also there at recall
    • Who investigated state-dependent forgetting?
      Carter and Cassady
    • Describe Carter and Cassaday's research into state dependent thinking
      • Antihistamine drugs were given to participants and they had to learn a list of words and passages of prose and recall them when they were under the influence or in a normal state
      • In conditions where there was a mismatch between the internal state at learning and recall, performance was worse
      • Internal cues available at help trigger memories if they are also there at recall
    • Explanations of forgetting: Retrieval Failure Theory evaluation
      • Real life application from Baddeley's research into context dependent forgetting
      • Not applicable to everyday life: research to support doesn't reflect real life
      • Low internal validity: impossible to test context dependent forgetting
    See similar decks