Retrieval Failure

• What is retrieval failure in long-term memory (LTM)?

  A proposed explanation for forgetting
• What occurs during retrieval failure?

  We lack necessary cues to access a memory
• What does it mean when a memory is available but not accessible?

  It can be recalled with suitable cues
• What is a cue in the context of memory?

  Anything that serves as a reminder
• What are the two main forms of retrieval failure?

  • Context-dependent forgetting
  • State-dependent forgetting
• What is context-dependent forgetting?

  • Occurs when external cues at learning differ from retrieval
  • External cues are not available at the time of retrieval
• Who conducted research on context-dependent forgetting?

  Godden & Baddeley
• What was the method used by Godden & Baddeley in their study?

  Scuba-divers learned words on land or underwater
• How many experimental conditions were created in Godden & Baddeley's study?

  Four experimental conditions
• What were the two matching conditions in Godden & Baddeley's study?

  Learn and recall on land, learn and recall underwater
• What was the conclusion of Godden & Baddeley's study?

  Different external cues led to retrieval failure
• What is state-dependent forgetting?

  • Occurs when internal cues at learning differ from retrieval
  • Internal cues are not available at the time of retrieval
• Who conducted research on state-dependent forgetting?

  Goodwin et al.
• What was the condition of participants in Goodwin et al.'s study?

  Participants were either drunk or sober
• How many experimental conditions were created in Goodwin et al.'s study?

  Four experimental conditions
• What were the two matching conditions in Goodwin et al.'s study?

  Learn and recall sober, learn and recall drunk
• What was the conclusion of Goodwin et al.'s study?

  Different internal cues led to retrieval failure
• What is a strength of research into retrieval failure

  Strength = usefully applied to real world. E.g been suggested - students should consider revising in same room they will be taking exams in to prevent context-dependent forgetting. Imagination can be used to achieve the same effects. E.g Smith (1979) - just thinking of room where you did original learning was as effective as being in same room at time of retrieval. Suggests - useful real-world applications.
• What is a weakness of research into retrieval failure

  Weakness = been suggested contexts have to be v diff before any context-dependent forgetting seen. Baddeley (1997) suggested learning material in one room + recalling in another room would be unlikely to result in much forgetting bc environments = not diff enough. Suggests findings of Godden & Baddelely (1975) may be explained by idea - underwater environment is so different from the environment on land. 
• What is a weakness of research into retrieval failure

  Weakness = evidence context-dependent forgetting only occurs in certain circumstances. E.g Godden & Baddeley (1980) replicated underwater experiment using recognition test instead of recall test. scuba-diver pts learnt list of words either on land or underwater. Then, either on land or underwater, they were asked to indicate whether each word from new list was on original list. Godden & Baddelely - no context-dependent effect, instead, performance = same in matching + non-matching experimental conditions. Suggests presence or absence of contextual cues only affects memory when tested in a certain way.