6. Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure

• 1. Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure

  Retrieval Failure:

  • Forgetting = insufficient cues.
  • Encoding new memory, info revolving around it is stored too (e.g. setting).
  • No cues = retrieval failure.
• 2. Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure

  Tulving (1983) - Encoding Specificity Principle (ESP):

  • Helpful cues has to be present at encoding/retrieval.
• 2a. Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure

  Meaningless Cues:

  Context-Dependent Forgetting - recall depends on external cues.

  State-Dependent Forgetting - recall depends on internal cues.
• 3. Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure


  Godden + Baddeley (1975):

  • Deep-sea divers word lists; land/water.

  1. Learned land; recall land.
  2. Learned land; recall water.
  3. Learned water; recalled water.
  4. Learned water; recalled land.

  • Accurate recall 40% lower in non-matching condition.
  • Context-dependent forgetting.
• 4. Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure

  Carter + Cassaday (1998):

  • Anti-histamines to participants; sedative effect.

  1. Learned drug; recall drug.
  2. Learned drug; recall no drug.
  3. Leaned no drug; recall drug.
  4. Learned no drug; recalled no drug.

  • Mismatch = poor recall.
  • State-dependent forgetting.
• Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure (Evaluation)

  Strength:

  P - retrieval cues overcomes forgetting IRL.

  E - Baddeley suggests worth paying attention to.

  E - if forget, effort recall in environment first learned/encoded in.

  L - research on retrieval failure provided strategies for improvement = real-life application.
• Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure (Evaluation)

  Strength:

  P - support for retrieval failure explanation.

  E - Godden + Baddeley (1975) and Carter + Cassaday (1998), lack relevant cues at recall lead to context/state-dependent forgetting.

  L - retrieval failure occurs IRL situations + in high controlled conditions.
• Explanation of Forgetting - Retrieval Failure (Evaluation)

  Limitation:

  P - Baddeley, context effects not strong IRL.

  E - diff contexts have to be extremely diff (like land + underwater) for effect to be seen.

  L - retrieval failure due to lack contextual cues may not explain much about everyday forgetting.