Comparison of free-recall and cued-recall performance suggests that most memory failures are due to:
A)information no longer being in memory due to decay
B)a failure to use an appropriate retrieval cue
C)information no longer being in memory due to interference
D)repression of the information so that it cannot be brought to consciousness

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cued-recall performance is typically better than free-recall performance, indicating that memory failures are often due to a failure to use an appropriate retrieval cue. This suggests that the information is still in memory, but cannot be accessed without a cue to help retrieve it. Therefore, option B is the best choice. Option A is incorrect, as decay theory suggests that memories weaken over time and eventually disappear, but the fact that cued-recall can aid memory retrieval suggests that the information is still in memory. Option C is partially correct, as interference can sometimes make it difficult to retrieve information, but it does not explain why cued-recall can improve memory retrieval. Option D is incorrect, as repression is not a well-supported concept in memory research, and there is no evidence to suggest that it causes memory failures in the majority of cases.

Comparison of Free-Recall and Cued-Recall Performance Suggests That Most Memory