Memory recall

Memory Recall Studies

Psychologists have created many tests to measure memory recall. The typical research design used when testing memory recall involves carrying out a standardised experiment where participants are shown a stimulus for a short period of time and asked to free recall.

Essentially, this means that they need to repeat what they initially saw.

Murdock (1962) asked participants to free recall a list of words that were presented to them. The list of words varied from 10-40 words. This research established the serial position effect.

Murdock's (1962) research showed evidence supporting the serial position effect- StudySmarter Oginal- Sharon Thind (Canva)

Factors That Cause Memory Recall Issues

It is typically agreed upon by psychologists that memory retrieval is more difficult the longer the period is between learning and recalling a memory. However, if memory is consolidated properly, then recall and accuracy of memory is likely to be retrieved.

Memory consolidation

Memory needs to be consolidated so that it can be stored in the long-term memory store, and it is usually done through elaborate rehearsal. If this is not done then memory recall is more difficult or the memory may decay or be displaced.

• Research has found that memories that have had more elaborate rehearsals are more likely to be remembered than ones that have not.

Psychologists have established strategies to help with learning information. Mnemonics are sometimes used as a technique, where the first letter of each word is used to represent the word in a phrase. This method is typically used when people want to remember longer phrases.

Another method used to memorise something, for instance, when having difficulties remembering complicated or large chunks of information, is the use of acrostics. An acrostic is where a phrase is coined based on each letter of the word/phrase (commonly the first) stands for another word.

The short-term memory store has a limited capacity of 7+/-2 'chunks' of information, if the amount of information stored here at the same time surpasses that limit, then some of the information is displaced.

Displacement means that the information cannot be moved to the long-term memory and is likely irretrievable.

The use of mnemonics and acronyms reduces the amount of 'chunks' that are in the short-term memory and so it is likely to be moved to the long-term memory store if it is elaborately rehearsed enough.

Memory retrieval

For a memory to be recalled it must be retrieved first. There are different types of retrieval.

• Recall - remembering information without any cues.

  Remembering your schedule for the day without any prompts

• Recognition- identifying new information based on previously learned memories.

  Identifying the answer in a multiple-choice test based on what you have previously learned

• Recollection- reconstructing a memory (mentally) to remember something.

  Retracing your steps to remember where you placed your keys

Memories may be retrieved via association this is a form of cue recall. You may experience this when you see something and it reminds you of a previous memory. Cues essentially are hints that help you recall memories via association. Attending to information can also help retrieve memories. To do this, individuals need to make a conscious effort to try and remember something.

Sometimes memories can be forgotten and cannot be retrieved, this is called retrieval failure. The potential factors that may cause memory retrieval failure are that the memory has been displaced. Memory displacement occurs when new information has replaced it and this usually occurs when the memory has not been stored in the long-term memory store or it was not rehearsed enough.

Or, the memory has decayed; this usually occurs when a memory is not thought about often.

Finally, interference may occur. Interference occurs when the learning of new information has interfered with a previous memory, this can distort the memory.

Strategies Used to Improve Memory Recall?

Memory recall is an important function that is needed to function properly. However, sometimes information can be forgotten. Psychologists have established factors and techniques that can be used to help recall memories.

Memory Recall Techniques

People can use strategies to help them recall memories, these can be:

• Use of effective retrieval cues:
  • Contextual - when someone is given some cues about the context of an event/phenomenon that happened/exists then the individual is more likely to recall the event
  • Visual - when someone sees something that looks similar to the information that they are trying to retrieve. The person is more likely o recall the memory

• Alternative methods:
  • Hypnosis for memory recall - there is disagreement amongst researchers concerning whether hypnosis is an effective method that can help memory recall. Hypnosis is a method used to ‘uncover hidden, unconscious memories’. This does not essentially mean that we are likely to remember memories better when hypnotised.
  • Meditation for memory recall - meditation is a mindfulness technique that can boost abilities to pay attention and concentrate on things. These factors are known to improve memory recall abilities