Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
08:53
Using a Classroom-Based Deese Roediger McDermott Paradigm to Assess the Effects of Imagery on False Memories
Published on: November 14, 2018
List-method directed forgetting: the forget cue improves both encoding and retrieval of postcue information.
Bernhard Pastötter1, Oliver Kliegl, Karl-Heinz T Bäuml
1Department of Experimental Psychology, Regensburg University, 93040, Regensburg, Germany. bernhard.pastoetter@psychologie.uni-regensburg.de
Memory & Cognition
|May 17, 2012
Summary
Directed forgetting research shows list output order affects memory enhancement for the second list (list 2), but not forgetting of the first list (list 1). This suggests separate encoding and retrieval factors influence memory performance.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Human Memory
Background:
- List-method directed forgetting involves cues to forget a studied list (list 1) and learn a new one (list 2).
- This typically results in forgetting of list 1 and enhanced memory for list 2.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how serial learning position and list output order impact directed forgetting.
- To explore the mechanisms underlying list 2 enhancement in directed forgetting tasks.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments were conducted examining list-method directed forgetting.
- The study manipulated item serial position within lists and the order in which lists were recalled.
Main Results:
- List output order influenced list 2 enhancement but not list 1 forgetting.
- List 2 enhancement was greater when list 2 was recalled before list 1, and particularly for early list 2 items.
- List 1 forgetting was consistent across all items and unaffected by list output order.
Conclusions:
- List 2 enhancement appears to involve both an encoding factor (affecting early items) and a retrieval factor (affecting all items, dependent on output order).
- A novel two-mechanism account of directed forgetting is proposed, integrating encoding and retrieval perspectives on list 2 enhancement.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Forgetting
Forgetting is an intrinsic aspect of human memory, characterized by the gradual loss or inaccessibility of information over time. Hermann Ebbinghaus, a pioneering psychologist, extensively studied this phenomenon and formulated the forgetting curve. This curve illustrates that memory loss occurs rapidly immediately after learning and then decelerates over time. Several mechanisms contribute to forgetting, including encoding failure, storage decay, retrieval failure, and interference.
Encoding...
Encoding...
01:16Interference and Decay
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
01:22Chunking and Rehearsal in Sensory Memory
Improving short-term memory can be achieved through techniques like chunking and rehearsal. Chunking involves organizing information into larger, more manageable units. This technique is particularly useful for information that exceeds the typical memory span of between five and nine items. For instance, logging into an online account with a password like "ta89vq0179gz" involves grouping letters and numbers into three chunks—ta89, vq01, and 79gz. It makes large amounts of information more...
01:24Implicit Memories
Implicit memories, also known as non-declarative memories, are long-term memories that function outside of conscious awareness. These memories influence behavior and skills without explicit knowledge. This type of memory is evident in tasks like playing tennis, snowboarding, and texting. Implicit memory has three subsystems: procedural memory, conditioning, and priming. This type of memory is essential in various activities, from everyday tasks to specialized skills.
One key aspect of implicit...
One key aspect of implicit...
01:18Long-Term Memory
Long-term memory is a relatively permanent type of memory, capable of storing vast amounts of information over extended periods. Its storage capacity is generally considered unlimited.
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
Long-term memory can be categorized into two primary types: explicit and implicit memory. Explicit memory, also known as declarative memory, involves the conscious recollection of information that we deliberately try to remember, recall, and articulate. This type of memory encompasses specific facts, events, and...
01:23Mnemonic Devices
Mnemonic devices are cognitive tools that facilitate memory retention by linking new information to familiar patterns or organizational strategies. These techniques are beneficial for remembering complex or lengthy sets of information by simplifying and structuring them in easily retrievable ways.
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...
Acronyms
Acronyms are created by using the initial letters of a series of words to form a new word or phrase. This approach condenses complex information into a single, memorable entity. For example,...