1. There are different measures of retention including recall, recognition, and relearning. Recall involves reproducing information without cues while recognition provides alternatives. Relearning shows that even if information can't be initially recalled or recognized, there may still be some memory through faster relearning.
2. The sensitivity of a retention measure refers to its ability to detect stored information. Recognition is the most sensitive while free recall is the least sensitive.
3. The encoding specificity principle states that retrieval is more likely when cues match the original learning conditions. Context-dependent and state-dependent cues can help access memories formed in a specific context or state.
2. Recall - Being asked to reproduce information with the fewest
possible cues.
Free Recall – asked to remember as much information as possible in
no particular order -List of grocery items
Serial Recall – asked to recall information in a particular order -
Names of Cities (itinerary)
Cued Recall - given a cue then asked to recall Seven Dwarfs: first
letter of
Recall
3. Recognition - Identifying correct information from among
alternatives.
Can retrieve more this way as recognition provides more cues for
retrieving from LTM.
Recognition is a more sensitive measure
Example – multiple choice Q’s
Recognition
4. Relearning - Even if you can’t recall or recognise initially it doesn’t mean
there is no memory. If you relearn it and learn it more quickly the 2nd time,
the assumption is that there was some memory available
Especially true for procedural memory - saying its like riding a bicycle -
never forget how to ride a bike
Savings score - if the time taken to learn the material originally can be
measured and compared with the time taken to relearn the same material,
then a savings score can be calculated
(time for original learning) - (times for relearning) x 100%
__________________________________________
(time for original learning
Savings
Score
=
Relearning
5. Measures of retention - sensitivity
Relearning
Recognition
Cued recall
Free recall
The sensitivity of a measure of retention refers to its ability to assess the
amount of information that has been stored in memory. A very sensitive
measure of retention is more likely to detect information that has been learned
and stored in memory at some time in the past than would a measure that is
not very sensitive.
Most Sensitive
Least Sensitive
6. The encoding specificity principle
The encoding specificity principle involves a general ‘rule’ that
the more closely the retrieval cues match the original learning conditions,
the more likely it is that the information will be recalled.
7. Context dependent cues are environmental cues in the specific situation
(‘context’) where a memory was formed that act as retrieval cues to help access
the memories formed in that context. These cues may include the sights, sounds
and smells within the specific situation.
Context-dependent cues
8. State dependent cue
. State dependent cues are associated with an individual’s internal physiological
and/or psychological state at the time the memory was formed, and act as retrieval
cues to help access those memories. For example, if you learn information when
you are happy, that information is more likely to be retrieved when you are in the
same ‘state’.
