Retrieval failure

• Retrieval failure


  When we don't have the cues we need to access a memory
• Cues


  Triggers to something, can be meaningful or just present when info was encoded, can be internal (mood) or external (room we were in)
• Encoding specificity principle


  For a cue to help us recall, it must be present during coding and recall
• Context dependent forgetting


  When external retrieval cues at coding and recall don't match, e.g. getting lower marks in a test because you learnt in one room and recalled in another
• State dependent forgetting


  When internal retrieval cues at coding and recall don't match, e.g. trying to recall information you learnt sober when drunk
• Evaluation of retrieval failure

  • supporting research - Godden & Baddeley , Carter & Cassaday

  • real life application

  • overcoming interference with cues - Tulving & Psotska

  • context isn’t that important