Abstract
Memory is modified through the act of retrieval. Although retrieving a target piece of information may strengthen the retrieved information itself, it may also serve to weaken retention of related information. This phenomenon, termed retrieval-induced forgetting, has garnered substantial interest for its implications as to why forgetting occurs. The present study attempted to replicate the seminal work by Anderson et al. (1994) on retrieval-induced forgetting, given the apparent sensitivity of the effect to certain deviations from the original paradigm developed to study the phenomenon. The study extends the conditions under which retrieval-induced forgetting has been examined by utilizing both a traditional college undergraduate sample (Experiment 1), along with a more diverse internet sample (Experiment 2). In addition, Experiment 3 details a replication attempt of retrieval-induced forgetting using Anderson and Spellman's (1995) independent cue procedure. Retrieval-induced forgetting was observed when using the traditional retrieval practice paradigm with undergraduate (Experiment 1) and internet (Experiment 2) samples, though the effect was not found when using the independent cue procedure (Experiment 3). Thus, the study can provide an indication as to the robustness of retrieval-induced forgetting to deviations from the traditional college undergraduate samples that have been used in the majority of existing research on the effect.
Highlights
Retrieving information from memory affects the later memorability of the retrieved target itself, and has consequences for the memorability of non-target, related information, as well
A planned comparison examining final recall of RP− and NRP items yielded a reliable retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) effect, t(71) = 2.59, p = 0.01, with NRP items recalled at a higher frequency (M = 0.45, SE = 0.01) than RP− items (M = 0.41, SE = 0.02), d = 0.31
Given the significant RIF effect observed in Experiment 1, and effect size d = 0.31, we can conclude that the replication was successful
Summary
Retrieving information from memory affects the later memorability of the retrieved target itself, and has consequences for the memorability of non-target, related information, as well. Empirical research suggests that when information is retrieved, related information can become less memorable as a consequence of the retrieval attempt. This phenomenon is known as retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF; Anderson et al, 1994). In turn, is thought to be a consequence of the interference that occurs when information competes for retrieval. Such views have been instantiated in detailed mathematical models, such as the Search of Associative Memory (SAM) model (Raaijmakers and Shiffrin, 1981; Mensink and Raaijmakers, 1988). As such, forgetting can be conceptualized as an inability to remember a target at a particular instant due to retrieval competition, competition that results in interference between a specific cue and a specific target
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