Explainations for forgetting: context dependent forgetting

Question 1

What is context dependent forgetting

Answer 1

When you forget information because the environment during recall does match the environment during learning.This is caused by context cues .

Question 2

What is the encoding specificity principle

Answer 2

Memory is most efficient when context present at learning matched the context present at recall remembering.

Question 3

What context cues can affect memory based on the encoding specificity principle?

Answer 3

Location - the physical place where learning occurs

Environmental sounds - noises present during learning

Smells- specific odors accompanying the learning process( like smelling perfume you used to wear in year 11)

Question 4

What research supported context dependent forgetting ?

Answer 4

Godden and baddeley- the aim of the study was to investigate context dependent forgetting. The participants were divers and they learned and recalled lists of words either underwater or on land. There were four conditions: 1) learn-land recall-land 2)learn-land recall-water 3)learn-water and recall-land 4) learn-water recall-water. Divers recalled more words when learning and recall contexts were matched. This supports the encoding specificity principle.

Question 5

What’s a limitation of context dependent forgetting

Answer 5

Limited context applicability, not many people are trying to recall and learn in water for example , it’s not generalisable to people.

Individual differences- memory is affected differently by context for each person.