FORGETTINGFORGETTING

FORGETTINGFORGETTING

Defined as:Defined as:

The inability to retrieve previously The inability to retrieve previously stored information…stored information…

The information is not LOST just The information is not LOST just cannot be RETRIEVEDcannot be RETRIEVED

FORGETTING IS FORGETTING IS ADAPTIVEADAPTIVE

Forgetting is adaptive because it Forgetting is adaptive because it relieves our mind of relieves our mind of ‘‘clutterclutter’’

If we had all our memory floating If we had all our memory floating around our head all day we would around our head all day we would not be able to take in new not be able to take in new information and it keeps us sane and information and it keeps us sane and on taskon task

Forgetting CurveForgetting Curve

The forgetting The forgetting curve is a graph curve is a graph showing the showing the pattern (rate and pattern (rate and amount) of amount) of forgetting that forgetting that occurs over time.occurs over time.

Forgetting CurveForgetting Curve

A typical forgetting curve shows that A typical forgetting curve shows that forgetting is rapid soon after the forgetting is rapid soon after the original learning original learning

Over half the material is forgotten in Over half the material is forgotten in the first hour, then the rate slows the first hour, then the rate slows downdown

Any memory remaining after 8 hours Any memory remaining after 8 hours is likely to remain stable for a long is likely to remain stable for a long timetime

Factors that affect Factors that affect forgettingforgetting

Amount of material Amount of material retained retained is is greater when the learning is done greater when the learning is done over extended periods of time (eg over extended periods of time (eg months)months)

Rate of forgetting is Rate of forgetting is slowerslower when when the material is the material is meaningfulmeaningful

Influenced greatly by how well the Influenced greatly by how well the initial learning took place- the better initial learning took place- the better the original encoding the longer the the original encoding the longer the material is likely to be retainedmaterial is likely to be retained

Measures of Measures of RetentionRetention

Recall, Recognition and Recall, Recognition and

Re-learning page 366Re-learning page 366

What are the colours of What are the colours of the rainbow?the rainbow?

ROY G BIVROY G BIV RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN,

BLUE, INDIGO, VIOLETBLUE, INDIGO, VIOLET

Which of the following is Which of the following is a true colour of the a true colour of the

rainbow?rainbow?

PurplePurplePinkPinkBrownBrownBlueBlue

What is an easy acronym to What is an easy acronym to remember the 7 colours of remember the 7 colours of

the rainbow?the rainbow?

ROY G BIVROY G BIV

What are the colours of What are the colours of the rainbow?the rainbow?

ROY G BIVROY G BIV RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, RED, ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN,

BLUE, INDIGO, VIOLETBLUE, INDIGO, VIOLET

RECALL- retrieving facts and RECALL- retrieving facts and information from stored information from stored

memoriesmemories

Which of the following is a Which of the following is a true colour of the rainbow?true colour of the rainbow?

PurplePurple PinkPink BrownBrown BlueBlueRECOGNITION- identifying RECOGNITION- identifying

the correct information from the correct information from a number of alternativesa number of alternatives

What is an easy acronym to What is an easy acronym to remember the 7 colours of remember the 7 colours of

the rainbow?the rainbow?

ROY G BIVROY G BIV

RE- LEARNING- learning again RE- LEARNING- learning again something which has been something which has been learned before but was not learned before but was not

remembered wellremembered well

Measures of RetentionMeasures of Retention

Memory retention is measured by Memory retention is measured by examining what information is examining what information is retrieved. It is also measured by retrieved. It is also measured by how well it has been retained.how well it has been retained.

Each measure of retention has a Each measure of retention has a relative sensitivity measurementrelative sensitivity measurement..

SensitivitySensitivity means how well means how well information is able to be retrieved information is able to be retrieved once stored in memoryonce stored in memory

Sensitivity RatingsSensitivity Ratings Recall is the Recall is the least sensitiveleast sensitive ( this ( this

means that remembering something is means that remembering something is more difficult using this method)more difficult using this method)

RE-learning is the RE-learning is the most sensitivemost sensitive Recognition is more sensitive than Recognition is more sensitive than

recall, but less sensitive than re-learningrecall, but less sensitive than re-learningIn other words in order from least to most In other words in order from least to most

sensitive it looks like thissensitive it looks like this1.1. RECALL (good)RECALL (good)2.2. RECOGNITION (better)RECOGNITION (better)3.3. RE-LEARNING (best)RE-LEARNING (best)

Re-LearningRe-Learning

Re-learning means to learn Re-learning means to learn something again which was something again which was previously stored in your memory previously stored in your memory but not entirely able to be but not entirely able to be remembered.remembered.

If we If we re-learnre-learn information it is information it is retained more quickly. retained more quickly.

It is retained more quickly because It is retained more quickly because previous experienceprevious experience has helped us. has helped us.

The Saving ScoreThe Saving Score This was developed by Herman Ebbinghaus This was developed by Herman Ebbinghaus

(1850-1909)(1850-1909) His test revealed the followingHis test revealed the following

(time for orginal learning) –( time for re-(time for orginal learning) –( time for re-learning) Saving Score= learning) Saving Score= ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(time for original learning)(time for original learning)

Eg if it took 1 hour to learn something the first time and only 45 Eg if it took 1 hour to learn something the first time and only 45 minutes to minutes to re-learnre-learn it the second time- that is a savings score of it the second time- that is a savings score of 25 per cent25 per cent

60-45 60-45 x 100 = 25 x 100 = 25

6060

Theories of Theories of ForgettingForgetting

Pages 371-387Pages 371-387

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN THERE ARE FOUR MAIN THEORIES OF FORGETTINGTHEORIES OF FORGETTING

1.1. Forgetting occurs because the wrong Forgetting occurs because the wrong retrieval cue has been used- retrieval cue has been used- RETRIEVAL RETRIEVAL FAILURE FAILURE

2.2. Forgetting occurs because there is Forgetting occurs because there is interference from other memoriesinterference from other memories- - INTERFERENCE THEORYINTERFERENCE THEORY

3.3. Forgetting occurs because we are Forgetting occurs because we are motivated unconsciously to forgetmotivated unconsciously to forget- - MOTIVATED FORGETTINGMOTIVATED FORGETTING

4.4. Forgetting occurs because the physical Forgetting occurs because the physical trace created by a new memory fades trace created by a new memory fades over times because of disuse.: over times because of disuse.: DECAY DECAY THEORYTHEORY

RETREIVAL RETREIVAL FAILURE FAILURE THEORYTHEORY

Forgetting occurs because Forgetting occurs because the wrong retrieval cue has the wrong retrieval cue has

been usedbeen used

Retrieval Failure TheoryRetrieval Failure Theory

This theory tells us that forgetting This theory tells us that forgetting happens not because information is happens not because information is lost but because we donlost but because we don’’t use the t use the right right retrieval cuesretrieval cues

A A retrieval cueretrieval cue is anything that is anything that assists the process of locating and assists the process of locating and recovering information stored in our recovering information stored in our memorymemory

This theory is also known as This theory is also known as cue- cue- dependant forgettingdependant forgetting

TOT

TOT= Tip of the tongue phenomenon You are sure you know it and that at You are sure you know it and that at

any moment you will remember the any moment you will remember the required information.required information.

INTERFERENCE INTERFERENCE THEORYTHEORY

Forgetting occurs because Forgetting occurs because there is interference from there is interference from

other memoriesother memories

Interference TheoryInterference Theory

This theory proposes that forgetting This theory proposes that forgetting occurs because the material being occurs because the material being retrieved is becoming confused with retrieved is becoming confused with other information in memory, this is other information in memory, this is more so if the other memories are more so if the other memories are similar.similar.

There are two types of interference There are two types of interference theoriestheories

RETROACTIVE and RETROACTIVE and PROACTIVEPROACTIVE

RETROACTIVERETROACTIVE

New information interferes with the New information interferes with the retrieval of retrieval of recentlyrecently learned material learned material

RINO (Retroactive Interference New information interferes with Old information)

NEW NEW OLDOLDINTERFERES

PROACTIVEPROACTIVE

This is the opposite to This is the opposite to retroactiveretroactive Old Old information interferes with the information interferes with the

ability to remember ability to remember New New informationinformation PION (Proactive Interference Old

information interferes with New information)

OLDOLD NEWNEWINTERFERES

MOTIVATED MOTIVATED FORGETTINGFORGETTING

This is forgetting that occurs because This is forgetting that occurs because of a strong desire to forgetof a strong desire to forget

This is usually because of a disturbing This is usually because of a disturbing or upsetting experienceor upsetting experience

There are two types of motivated There are two types of motivated forgettingforgetting

REPRESSION and REPRESSION and SUPPRESSIONSSUPPRESSIONS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlX3P7GsgkEv=HlX3P7GsgkE

MOTIVATED MOTIVATED FORGETTING FORGETTING

THEORYTHEORYForgetting occurs because we Forgetting occurs because we are motivated unconsciously are motivated unconsciously

to forgetto forget

REPRESSIONREPRESSION Is an Is an unconscious processunconscious process The individual blocks memory of an event The individual blocks memory of an event

or experience or experience The individual will do this because it is The individual will do this because it is

too psychologically painful to remember too psychologically painful to remember the informationthe information

The famous psychologist Freud believed The famous psychologist Freud believed that this type of repression was a form of that this type of repression was a form of self defenceself defence

He believed that these memories were not He believed that these memories were not lost- however they were very difficult to lost- however they were very difficult to retrieveretrieve

Read page 390 Read page 390

SUPPRESSIONSUPPRESSION

This involves the This involves the deliberatedeliberate effort effort to keep a memory from our to keep a memory from our consciousnessconsciousness

They They choosechoose not to think about it not to think about it

DECAY THEORYDECAY THEORY

Forgetting occurs because Forgetting occurs because the physical trace created by the physical trace created by

a new memory fades over a new memory fades over times because of disuse.: times because of disuse.:

DECAY THEORYDECAY THEORY

This theory suggests that memories This theory suggests that memories that are not used become weaker that are not used become weaker and weaker as time goes onand weaker as time goes on

Unused memories may decay to a Unused memories may decay to a point where they are no longer able point where they are no longer able to be recollectedto be recollected

Organic Causes of Forgetting

Suggests that forgetting occurs due to physiological damage, such as amnesia. There are 2 types of amnesia

Retrograde AmnesiaDamage affects a person’s ability to retrieve memories before the damage occurred. Nearly always return (inability to remember old memories)

Anterograde AmnesiaThe most common type. An inability to form new memories. Unable to recover memories (inability to form new ones)

WORK TO COMPLETEWORK TO COMPLETE

1) READ- Chapter 7 THEORIES of 1) READ- Chapter 7 THEORIES of FORGETTINGFORGETTING

2) FOGETTING handout matching the 2) FOGETTING handout matching the term with the definition.term with the definition.

3) Theories of forgetting Revision test3) Theories of forgetting Revision test

4) STUDY ON- questions on the 4) STUDY ON- questions on the theoriestheories

Manipulation and Manipulation and Improvement ofImprovement of

MemoryMemoryCHAPTER 8CHAPTER 8

Quality of EncodingQuality of Encoding

The quality of retrieval from LTM The quality of retrieval from LTM depends on how well you store or depends on how well you store or organise that information.organise that information.

Information that is organised well as Information that is organised well as it is being it is being encodedencoded into LTM is far into LTM is far more likely to be successfully more likely to be successfully retrieved at a later timeretrieved at a later time

OrganisationOrganisation

Is the process of grouping individual Is the process of grouping individual items togetheritems together

Grouping is the forming of a Grouping is the forming of a relationship between two items relationship between two items

You probably do it a lot without You probably do it a lot without realising it realising it

Organisation of Organisation of InformationInformation

DogDog CouchCouch TulipTulip CatCat RoseRose KitchenKitchen BedBed PigPig WattleWattle

If asked you may If asked you may remember these remember these under the under the following following groupingsgroupings

ANIMALSANIMALSFLOWERSFLOWERSHOUSEHOLD HOUSEHOLD

ITEMSITEMS

Context- Dependant CuesContext- Dependant Cues

Ever gone back to your old Ever gone back to your old primary school and a rush of primary school and a rush of memories come back to you?memories come back to you?

ThatThat’’s because you have put yourself s because you have put yourself back in that back in that contextcontext (or situation) (or situation) where the memories were first where the memories were first formed and so retrieving them from formed and so retrieving them from LTM becomes easierLTM becomes easier

Context- Dependant CuesContext- Dependant Cues

These are These are environmentalenvironmental cues that cues that act as retrieval cues to help you act as retrieval cues to help you access the memoriesaccess the memories

These cues may be sights, sounds These cues may be sights, sounds and smells within a specific situationand smells within a specific situation

Eg having a test in the same room Eg having a test in the same room you learnt the information is an you learnt the information is an advantage to recalling that advantage to recalling that knowledge from LTMknowledge from LTM

STATE DEPENDANT STATE DEPENDANT CUESCUES

There is evidence that shows that if There is evidence that shows that if learning took place while you were learning took place while you were in a certain in a certain physiologicalphysiological state or state or moodmood, that you will recall that , that you will recall that information better if you put yourself information better if you put yourself back in the same state when trying back in the same state when trying to recall from LTM.to recall from LTM.

These areThese are internal cues internal cues thatthat are are associated with the physiological or associated with the physiological or psychological statepsychological state

STATE DEPENDANT STATE DEPENDANT CUESCUES

Feeling happyFeeling happy makes you remember makes you remember

happy happy memories memories feeling sad feeling sad makes makes you remember sad you remember sad

memoriesmemories

MNEMONIC DEVICESMNEMONIC DEVICES

These are techniques for enhancing These are techniques for enhancing or improving memoryor improving memory

These can be visual or verbal These can be visual or verbal Mnemonic strategies are always Mnemonic strategies are always

iinternalnternal- writing a shopping list on - writing a shopping list on a piece of paper is not a mnemonic a piece of paper is not a mnemonic strategy because it relies on external strategy because it relies on external cuescues

ACRONYMSACRONYMS

pronounceable pronounceable words words using using the first letter the first letter to act as a cue to act as a cue for the term to for the term to be recalledbe recalled

Eg Roy G BivEg Roy G Biv ANZAC etcANZAC etc

ACROSTICSACROSTICS

These are phrases or poems where These are phrases or poems where the first letter of each words the first letter of each words functions to help with recall. functions to help with recall.

The difference here is that the The difference here is that the letters are REFORMULATED so that letters are REFORMULATED so that the letters form a SENTENCEthe letters form a SENTENCE

EG EG NNever ever EEat at SSoggy oggy WWeetbixeetbix North, East , South, WestNorth, East , South, West

NARRATIVE CHAININGNARRATIVE CHAINING

Also known as the Also known as the link methodlink method because it involves linking an item because it involves linking an item on a list with the previous one.on a list with the previous one.

You do this when you have a list of You do this when you have a list of words and turn them onto a story or words and turn them onto a story or song for you to remember themsong for you to remember them

NARRATIVE CHAININGNARRATIVE CHAINING

EGEG

Farmer, dart, skate, hedge, colony, Farmer, dart, skate, hedge, colony, duck furnitureduck furniture

A A farmer dartfarmer darted out of the forest, ed out of the forest, skateskated around a d around a hedge, hedge, stepped on stepped on a a colonycolony of of duckducks and tripped on s and tripped on some some furniture.furniture.

EFFECT OF EFFECT OF MISLEADING MISLEADING

QUESTIONS AND QUESTIONS AND EYE-WITNESS EYE-WITNESS TESTIMONIESTESTIMONIES

MANIPULATION OF MANIPULATION OF MEMORYMEMORY