Retrieval failure

• Another explanation of forgetting is retrieval failure where information is in the long-term memory but forgetting happens due to the absence of cues. A cue is a trigger of information that helps us recall a memory Encoding specificity principle is the idea that if a cue is to help us recall information, then it must be present at encoding when we learn the material and at retrieval when we recall it . If the cues at encoding and retrieval failure are different forgetting takes place . There are 2 types of cues: 1) Context dependant forgetting – where recall depends on external cues eg weather or place 2) state dependant forgetting where recall depends on internal cues eg being drunk or upset
• GODDEN AND BADDLEY- CONTEXT DEPENDANT FORGETTING Context dependant forgetting occurs when research depends on external cues Godden and Baddley studied divers who learnt list of words in different contexts. They learnt material either on land or underwater and recalled on land or underwater. They found that Recall was worse if information was recalled in different contexts and best in same contexts eg information learnt underwater was better recalled underwater. This showed that having the same context for recall and learning aids recall.
• CARTER AND CASSADAY- STATE DEPENDANT FORGETTING State dependant forgetting occurs when recall depends on internal cues Carter and cassady gave antihistamine drugs that made participants slightly drowsy participants had to learn a list of words and recall and learn the drug either on the drug and not on the drug . Material was learnt either sober or on the drug and tested either sober or drunk. They found that Recall was worse when participants where in a different internal state at recall eg recalling information drunk was better if learnt drunk. This demonstrates that having the same internal state for learning and recall aids recall.