Hockenbury Discovering Psychology 5th txtbk

Retrieval243RetrievalGetting Information from Long-Term MemoryKey Theme• Retrieval refers to the process of accessing and retrieving stored informationin long-term memory.Key Questions• What are retrieval cues and how do they work?• What do tip-of-the-tongue experiences tell us about the nature ofmemory?• How is retrieval tested, and what is the serial position effect?So far, we’ve discussed some of the important factors that affect encoding andstoring information in memory. In this section, we will consider factors that influencethe retrieval process. Before you read any further, try the demonstrationin Figure 6.7. After completing part (a) on this page, turn the page and try part(b). We’ll refer to this demonstration throughout this section, so please take ashot at it. After you’ve completed both parts of the demonstration, continuereading.Instructions: Spend 3 to 5 seconds reading each of the following sentences, and read through thelist only once. As soon as you are finished, cover the list and write down as many of the sentencesas you can remember (you need not write “can be used” each time). Please begin now.Figure 6.7(a) Demonstrationof Retrieval CuesSource: Adapted from Bransford & Stein (1993).A brick can be used as a doorstop.A ladder can be used as a bookshelf.A wine bottle can be used as a candleholder.A pan can be used as a drum.A fork can be used to comb hair.A guitar can be used as a canoe paddle.A leaf can be used as a bookmark.An orange can be used to play catch.A newspaper can be used to swat flies.A T-shirt can be used as a coffee filter.A sheet can be used as a sail.A boat can be used as a shelter.A bathtub can be used as a punch bowl.A flashlight can be used to hold water.A rock can be used as a paperweight.A knife can be used to stir paint.A pen can be used as an arrow.A barrel can be used as a chair.A rug can be used as a bedspread.A CD can be used as a mirror.A scissors can be used to cut grass.A board can be used as a ruler.A balloon can be used as a pillow.A shoe can be used to pound nails.A dime can be used as a screwdriver.A lampshade can be used as a hat.Now that you’ve recalled as many sentences as you can, turn to Figure 6.7(b) on the next page. .The Importance of Retrieval CuesRetrieval refers to the process of accessing, or retrieving, stored information.There’s a vast difference between what is stored in our long-term memory and whatwe can actually access. In many instances, our ability to retrieve stored memorieshinges on having an appropriate retrieval cue. A retrieval cue is a clue, prompt, orhint that can help trigger recall of a stored memory. If your performance on thedemonstration experiment in Figure 6.7 was like ours, the importance of retrievalcues should have been vividly illustrated.Let’s compare results. How did you do on the first part of the demonstration,in Figure 6.7(a)? Don initially remembered 12 pairs of items. Sandy blew Donout of the water on the first part—she remembered 19 pairs of items. Like us,you undoubtedly reached a point at which you were unable to remember anymore pairs. At that point, you experienced retrieval cue failure, which refers tothe inability to recall long-term memories because of inadequate or missing retrievalcues.retrievalThe process of accessing stored information.retrieval cueA clue, prompt, or hint that helps triggerrecall of a given piece of information storedin long-term memory.retrieval cue failureThe inability to recall long-term memoriesbecause of inadequate or missing retrievalcues.