Retrieval failure due to absence of cues
Sometimes a memory exists but you cannot access it because the right trigger is missing. Retrieval failure explains forgetting as a problem of access, not loss.
Real World
Godden and Baddeley (1975) asked deep-sea divers to learn word lists either underwater or on land, and found recall was significantly better when the testing environment matched the learning environment — demonstrating context-dependent retrieval failure when external cues were absent.
Exam Focus
Distinguish context-dependent (external cues) from state-dependent (internal cues) forgetting — examiners reward precise terminology.
Evaluation Scaffold
A four-step framework for high-quality evaluation. Use this for 'assess', 'evaluate', and 'to what extent' questions.
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