retrieval failure

• Retrieval failure due to absence of cues


  This theory states that we forget because we lack the cues or prompts to recall the information
• Cues


  • Contextual (the surroundings) cues
  • State (how we feel) cues
• Encoding specificity principle


  Cues that were present at the time of learning need to also be present at retrieval. The closer the cue is to the original, the more useful it will be.
• Context dependent forgetting


  We forget if we do not have the same context (external cues) during recall that were present during learning
• Context dependent forgetting


  • Godden and Baddeley (1975) study with divers
• Recall was greatest when the same context was used for learning and recall
• 40% more words were forgotten when recall took place in a different environment
• State dependent forgetting


  We forget if we do not have the same state (internal) cues during recall that were present during learning
• State dependent forgetting


  • Goodwin et al. (1969) study with drunk and sober participants
• We are more likely to remember information if we recall it in the same emotional state that we learnt it
• Retrieval failure due to absence of cues


  We forget because we lack the correct prompts or cues to recall the information
• Types of cues


  • Contextual (the surroundings) cues
  • State (how we feel) cues
• Encoding specificity principle


  To help us recall information, cues that were present at the time of learning need to also be present at retrieval. The closer the cue is to the original, the more useful it will be.
• Context cues


  • The environment or surroundings
• State cues


  • Our physiological or emotional state
• Context dependent forgetting


  We forget because we do not have the same context (external) cues during retrieval that were present when learning the information
• Godden and Baddeley (1975) study

  • Divers learned a set of words underwater or on land, then recalled the words in the same or different context
• Recall was greatest when the same context was used for learning and recall
• 40% more words were forgotten if recall took place in a different environment
• State dependent forgetting


  We forget because we do not have the same state (internal) cues during retrieval that were present when learning the information
• Goodwin et al. (1969) study


  • Volunteers learned a list of words when drunk or sober, then recalled the list in the same or different state
• We are more likely to remember information if we recall it in the same emotional state that we learned it
• Retrieval failure explanation of forgetting

  • Practical applications like the cognitive interview and context reconstruction
  • Research evidence supports it, like the Baker et al. (2004) study
• Retrieval failure explanation of forgetting

  • Evaluation of retrieval failure due to absence of cues
  • Practical applications
• Cognitive interview used to interview witnesses to crimes


  Asks the person to remember details such as the weather on the day of the crime
• Context reconstruction used in TV programmes such as Crimewatch


  Events leading up to the crime are reconstructed so enabling potential witnesses to come forward
• Retrieval failure is an accurate explanation of forgetting if the techniques like cognitive interview and context reconstruction work
• Context effects may only happen when the contexts are very different
• In real life, context effects may not be as strong as contexts are unlikely to have such an impact
• Memory improvement strategies may not be as effective as the research suggests
• Some memories are more important or significant and are therefore easily remembered, even without the use of cues
• Flashbulb memory suggests events which are unexpected and emotionally charged are more likely to be remembered-thus less likely to be forgotten
• Godden and Baddeley (1980) found no difference between the four conditions in terms of the amount recognised, questioning the extent to which forgetting is due to lack of cues
• Encoding specificity principle


  To help us recall information, cues that were present at the time of learning need to also be present at retrieval
• Context dependent forgetting


  We forget if we do not have the same context (external cues) during retrieval that were present when learning the information
• Context dependent forgetting


  • Godden and Baddeley (1975) study with divers
  • Words learned underwater had better recall when recalled underwater compared to on land
• State dependent forgetting


  We forget if we do not have the same state (internal cues) during retrieval that were present when learning the information
• State dependent forgetting


  • Goodwin et al. (1969) study with volunteers remembering a list of words when drunk or sober
  • More likely to remember information if recalled in the same emotional state as learning