explanations for forgetting: retrieval failure

• • what is the encoding specificity principle ?

  cues must be present at both encoding and retrieval. If they are different it may cause some forgetting
• what is context dependent forgetting ?

  recall depends on external cues (such as weather, place)
• what is state dependant forgetting ?

  recall depends on internal cues(such as emotions, feeling sad)
• what is the case study for context dependent forgetting?

  Godden and Baddley studied deep sea divers to see if training on land would hinder their work underwater. They either learned the list of  words underwater or on land and either recalled on land or underwater. Recall was 40% lower in non matched conditions.The different cues led to retrieval failure
• what is the study for state dependent forgetting ?

  Carter and Cassedy used the drug antihistamine which made the participants slightly drowsy. This made the participants' internal physiology state different than normal. When there was a mismatch on internal state at learning and recall, it was worse. The cues were absent so it led to more forgetting.  
• what is real world strength for retrieval failure ?

  Retrieval cues helps us overcome forgetting. For example when we’re in one room we think let me go get something from another room but when we enter it we forget and end up remembering in the first room. This shows recalling the environment helps us remember and we use these strategies in everyday life to improve recall.
• what research support for retrieval failure?

  There is an impressive range of research that supports this such as the Godden and Baddley experiment. Eysenck and Keane say retrieval failure is perhaps the main reason for forgetting LTM.Therefore this shows that retrieval failure occurs in real world situations
• what is a limitation for retrieval failure ?

  The different contexts have to be very different in order for an effect to be seen. (like in the land and underwater study). So if we learn and retrieve in different rooms forgetting is most likely not going to occur.Therefore retrieval failure due to lack of contextual cues may not explain everyday forgetting
• what is another limitation of retrieval failure ?

  Context effects may depend on the type of memory being tested. Godden and Baddley replicated their underwater study but instead of recalling they had to recognise the words. Performance was the same in all conditionsThis shows that retrieval failure only applies when recalling information so it is a limited explanation