Question 1

Ebbinghaus suggested that memory loss over time was caused by

Accepted Answer

Ebbinghaus's research on memory decay found that memories gradually fade over time due to decay and interference, leading to memory loss. He believed that forgotten memories were simply no longer accessible due to the passage of time and interference from other memories. This theory is still widely accepted today.

Question 2

The inhibitory account of RIF is supported by

Accepted Answer

The inhibitory account of Retrieval-Induced Forgetting (RIF) is supported by the occurrence of RIF with independent cues, as it suggests that the forgetting is due to inhibition rather than cue-dependent interference.

Question 3

Law et al. (2012) found that

Accepted Answer

The study by Law et al. (2012) found that highly anxious individuals showed reduced retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) compared to low anxious individuals. This means that their ability to retrieve information was improved due to the presence of anxiety. The study did not examine the relationship between RIF and depression, so options C and D are incorrect. Option A is incorrect because highly anxious individuals actually showed reduced RIF.

Question 4

The reconsolidation effect refers to the finding that

Accepted Answer

The reconsolidation effect refers to the idea that when a memory is activated, it becomes vulnerable to change or modification. This vulnerability lasts for a limited time, during which the memory can be updated or modified by new information that is presented. This process is called reconsolidation, and it can result in changes to the original memory trace. Thus, activating a memory increases its vulnerability to change.

Question 5

The cognitive interview makes use of

Accepted Answer

The cognitive interview technique includes context reinstatement, which encourages the witness to mentally place themselves back in the original context and to provide details based on sensory stimuli in the environment. The other choices (misinformation effect, reconsolidation effect, reminiscence bump) are not directly related to the cognitive interview.

Question 6

What are some of the unexpected characteristics/functions of memory?

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Provide a description/schematic of the Long-Term Memory model, as discussed in class (include the list and description of different types of long-term memory and the brain areas associated with each)

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Question 8

List and describe the factors that enhance our ability to transfer information from working memory to long-term memory and factors that hinder this process.

Accepted Answer

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Question 9

Compare and contrast Elaborative and Maintenance Rehearsal.

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

List and describe the factors that influence the recall/retrieval of a memory.

Accepted Answer

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Question 11

What is Retrieval-Induced Forgetting?

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

What is Reconsolidation? What implications does it have for eyewitness testimony?

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) refers to the finding that

Accepted Answer

Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) refers to the phenomenon where retrieval of a memory can actually make it harder to retrieve related memories. In other words, retrieval of one memory can suppress the retrieval of competing or related memories, leading to forgetting of those memories. This effect is strongest for memories that are weakly encoded or have low accessibility. Therefore, option C is the correct choice.

Question 14

The finding that learning is more effective when it involves retrieval tests is called

Accepted Answer

The finding that learning is more effective when it involves retrieval tests is called the testing effect. It is also sometimes referred to as the retrieval practice effect.

Question 15

Bartlett's 'The War of the Ghosts' experiment demonstrated the occurrence of

Accepted Answer

Bartlett's experiment demonstrated the occurrence of distortion, which is the alteration of a memory due to the influence of past experiences, expectations or stereotypes. The participants' retellings of the Native American legend they were given showed significant changes to the original story, indicating the presence of distortion in their memory recall.

Question 16

Craik & Lockhart (1972) suggested that successful retrieval of a memory depends on

Accepted Answer

Craik & Lockhart's levels of processing theory proposed that the depth of processing during encoding determines the ease and likelihood of successful retrieval. The more deeply an item is processed, such as by creating meaningful associations, the more likely it is to be remembered. Therefore, choice D is the best answer as it reflects the core concept of their theory.

Question 17

Orienting tasks are used to control

Accepted Answer

Orienting tasks are used to control the type of processing applied to the input, such as focusing on a specific aspect of the input or using a certain processing strategy. They do not necessarily control the total time spent on processing, interference suffered, or decay suffered by the input.

Question 18

Elaborative encoding improves retrieval performance because

Accepted Answer

Elaborative encoding involves creating meaningful connections and associations between new information and existing memory traces. This increases the number of associative connections with previous memory traces, making it easier to retrieve the information later on. Acoustic processing (A) focuses on the sound of the information, whereas structural processing (B) focuses on the physical characteristics of the information, but neither of these necessarily leads to elaborate encoding. The length of time for which input is processed (D) may be important for encoding, but without meaningful connections, retrieval may still be difficult.

Question 19

Generate and recognise' theory argues that

Accepted Answer

The 'generate and recognise' theory argues that recognition is a component of recall, suggesting that in order to recall information, one must first be able to recognize it. This theory posits that the process of recall involves generating possible options and then recognizing the correct one from these options.

Question 20

Tulving's theory that retrieval depends on the feature match between input and output is called

Accepted Answer

Tulving's theory that retrieval depends on the feature match between input and output is known as the encoding specificity principle. This theory emphasizes the importance of the match between the context of encoding and retrieval for successful memory retrieval. Consequently, the encoding specificity principle suggests that recalling information is more effective when the context of encoding and retrieval are similar. Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

Quiz 6: Long-Term Memory