This document discusses explanations for forgetting, specifically retrieval failure due to the absence of cues. It explains that while information is stored in long-term memory, we can forget due to an inability to retrieve it without cues. Cues can be external contextual details or internal state-dependent details associated with the initial learning that help with recall. The encoding specificity principle holds that cues present during learning must also be present during retrieval attempts. A lack of cues results in cue-dependent forgetting.

1. Memory: explanations of forgetting
• The specification.
• Explanations for forgetting: proactive
and retroactive interference and
retrieval failure due to absence of cues.

2. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•If information has been processed and stored
in long-term memory it is always available for
recall.
•One reason why we forget is we can’t
retrieve information stored in long-term
memory.
•This is called retrieval failure.

3. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•Psychologists think we can’t retrieve information
from long-term memory because we don’t have
cues or clues that help us to find that memory.
•When we learn something we don’t just store the
information we are focused on we also store lots of
associated information as well.
•This associated information can act as cues that
help us to recall the information we are trying to
remember.

4. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•If there are no cues that help us to recall the
information that we are trying to remember
then this is called cue-dependent forgetting.

5. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•Tulving (1983)
•Encoding Specificity Principle.
•A cue that helps to remember something has
to be present when we have learnt what we
are trying to remember.

6. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•Tulving (1983)
•Identified two types of cues that help us to
remember information.
•External cues.
•Internal cues.

7. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•External cues that help us remember are
called context dependent learning.
•Internal cues that help us to remember are
called state dependent learning.

8. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•External cues and context dependent learning.
•Group A: learn about forgetting in room 2E2.
•Group B: Learn about forgetting in room 2E2.
•Group A: Take a test about forgetting in room 2E2.
•Group B: Take a test about forgetting in room 2E8.

9. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•Godden & Baddeley (1975) – the divers study.

10. Forgetting: retrieval failure
• Internal cues and sate dependent learning.
• How we feel when we learn something is
important and can act as a cue that helps us to
remember that information later.
• What state of mind we are in is important and can
act as a cue that helps us to remember that
information later.

11. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•If we learn something when we have had an
alcoholic drink we can remember that
information better if we have an alcoholic
drink just before we recall it.
•The alcoholic drink acts as a cue.

12. Forgetting: retrieval failure
•Cassady & Cassady (1998)