5. Explanation of forgetting: Retrieval Failure

What is retrieval failure?

It is a form of forgetting and occurs when there is an absence of cues. The memory is still available

, but not accessible unless a suitable cues is provided

What is a retrieval cue?

The things that are served as a reminder to the information

What is the encoding specificity principle?

Memory is best recalled when cues at recall match cues at encoding.

Who proposed the encoding specificity principle?

Tulving

Why does forgetting occur according to encoding specificity?

Because the appropriate cues are not available at recall.

What is context-dependent forgetting?

Forgetting that occurs when the external environment at recall is different from encoding.(Revising in one room but taking the exam in another.)

What is state-dependent forgetting?

Forgetting that occurs when the internal state (emotional) at recall differs from encoding.(Learning information when tired but trying to recall it when alert.)

Who took part in the Godden and Baddeley study?

Deep-sea divers.

What did Godden & Baddeley do?

Divers learned word lists on land or underwater and recalled them on land or underwater.

What were the four conditions?

• Learn land / recall land

• Learn land / recall water

• Learn water / recall water

• Learn water / recall land

What did Godden & Baddeley find?

PP forgot more words in the non matching conditions

The recall of the non matching conditions was 40% lower

Strengths for retrieval failure

External Validity

• Godden and Baddeley found that divers recalled more words when learning and recall took place in the same environment (land–land or water–water). Because the study was conducted in a real-life setting using real divers, the findings reflect how memory works outside the laboratory. This supports retrieval failure as a valid explanation of forgetting, as it shows that recall depends on the presence of appropriate contextual cues in everyday life.

  Encoding Specificity Principle

• In Godden and Baddeley’s study, recall was worse when the learning context differed from the recall context.This shows that forgetting occurs because the correct retrieval cues are absent, not because the memory has been lost. Increasing internal validity. Therefore, it is supports retrieval failure as an explanation of forgetting by demonstrating that memory retrieval depends on matching cues at encoding and recall.

Weaknesses for retrieval failure

Generalisability

• Godden and Baddeley’s study is that it has limited population validity. The participants were deep-sea divers, a specialised group. Divers are trained to work in unusual environments, so their memory processes may differ from those of the general population.This limits the extent to which retrieval failure can be generalised as an explanation of forgetting for all people.

  Practical Application

• It has limited practical application. Godden and Baddeley showed that matching contexts improves recall, but exam conditions cannot realistically recreate learning environments.Students usually revise in different places from where they are tested, so context cues cannot always be reinstated.This weakens retrieval failure as a complete explanation of forgetting, as it is difficult to apply consistently in real-world situations.