Retrieval Failure

What are cues?

Triggers of information that allow memory to be accessed.

How does retrieval failure work?

Forgetting happens because of insufficient cues. When information is initially encoded (learned), cues are also stored at the same time. If cues aren’t available during recall it might appear the information is forgotten but really can’t be accessed.

What did Tulving (1983) find?

For a cue to be helpful, it has to be present at time of encoding and during recall. If the queue is absent/different, then there will be some forgetting.

Define external cues?

Related to the environment.

Define internal cues?

Related to internal states.

What is context dependent forgetting?

When internal cues are different between learning and recall.

What is state dependent forgetting?

When internal cues are different between learning and recall.

What was the aim of Gordon and Baddeley in 1975?

Investigating context dependent forgetting.

What was the method of G and B?

Deep sea divers learned lists of words underwater/land then record land/underwater. For conditions.

What was the results of G and B?

Recall was significantly lower when P’s were learning and recalling in different environment.

What was the conclusions of G and B?

Suggest external cues present during learning can cause retrieval failure if they are not present at recall= context dependent forgetting.

What was the aim of Carter and Cassidy 1998?

Investigating state dependent forgetting.

What was the method of C and C?

P’s given antihistamine drugs or not. Learned lists of words on drug or off drug and then tested later. Four conditions.

What was the results of C and C?

Recall was lower when P’s had a different internal state during learning and recall.

What was the conclusion of C and C?

Suggest that if internal cues during learning are not present at the time of recall, this results in retrieval failure= state dependent forgetting.