On a test of recall, participants who learn a list of words in one room do better if tested in that same room than if tested in a different room. This finding is best explained by __________.
A) habituation
B) method of loci
C) positive transfer
D) encoding specificity

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Encoding specificity is the principle that memory is most effective when information available at encoding is also present at retrieval. In this case, the physical context (the room) serves as a cue for memory retrieval, leading to better recall when tested in the same room.

On a Test of Recall, Participants Who Learn a List