Forgetting

Question 1

Describe the retrieval failure theory

Answer 1

• Forgetting in the long term memory
• The information is stored in the long term memory but cannot be accessed
• Forgetting according to this is due to lack of cues

Question 2

Describe forgetting due to lack of cues

Answer 2

• If a cue is to help us recall it has to be present at encoding and at retrieval
• If the cues are different at encoding and retrieval then there is forgetting

Question 3

Give a study which explains context depended forgetting

Answer 3

• Abernethy
• Students were tested before a course began in the following condition
• Altered between teaching room and teaching
• Usual instructor with usual room performed the best

Question 4

Eyewitness testimonies

Answer 4

• Evidence supplied in court by people who witness a specific event relying on their memory

Question 5

What are eye witness testimonies affected by?

Answer 5

• Misleading information such as leading questions and post event discussion

Question 6

What are the 2 cue dependent forgettings?

Answer 6

• Context dependent
• State dependent

Question 7

State Dependent forgetting

Answer 7

• Forgetting when learning and recalling are in different moods or physical states

Question 8

Leading Question

Answer 8

• It can bias a response without changing their memory
• Can change stored memory
• eg ‘Did you see the broken glass’

Question 9

Post Event Discussion

Answer 9

• Individual’s memory can be contaminated by what other people say or misleading information so witnesses must be kept apart until statements are taken to avoid this.

Question 10

What are the processes of the cognitive interview?

Answer 10

• Mental reinstatement
• Report everything
• Recall in reverse
• Recall from changed perspective

Question 11

Anxiety

Answer 11

• Unpleasant emotional state where we fear that something bad is about to happen

Question 12

Explain what the Yerkes Dodson Law shows

Answer 12

• Low levels of arousal produces low recall
• Recall increases as anxiety increases but reaches an optimal level
• High levels of anxiety produces low levels of recall