Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
10:58
Multimedia Battery for Assessment of Cognitive and Basic Skills in Mathematics (BM-PROMA)
Published on: August 28, 2021
Failures to replicate hyper-retrieval-induced forgetting in arithmetic memory
Anna J Maslany1, Jamie I D Campbell
1Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. anna.maslany@usask.ca
Summary
This study attempted to replicate the hyper-retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) effect. Researchers found no evidence supporting this phenomenon, suggesting it is not a robust finding in memory research.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Memory Research
- Learning Sciences
Background:
- Retrieval-induced forgetting (RIF) describes memory impairment for unpracticed items following retrieval of related items.
- Campbell and Phenix (2009) reported a 'hyper-RIF' effect where a single retrieval of multiplication facts caused significant forgetting of related addition facts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an exact replication of the Campbell and Phenix (2009) experiment investigating the hyper-RIF effect.
- To determine if the hyper-RIF phenomenon is a reliable and replicable finding in retrieval-induced forgetting research.
Main Methods:
- The study involved an exact replication of the experimental design used by Campbell and Phenix (2009).
- Participants underwent retrieval-practice blocks for multiplication facts and their addition counterparts were assessed for forgetting.
Main Results:
- The replication failed to find any evidence of the hyper-RIF effect.
- The magnitude of retrieval-induced forgetting observed did not support the initial findings of a hyper-RIF phenomenon.
Conclusions:
- The hyper-RIF effect, as reported by Campbell and Phenix (2009), appears to be an elusive and unreproducible phenomenon.
- This effect cannot currently be considered a significant or established finding within the broader literature on retrieval-induced forgetting.
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