Cue Dependent Theory of Forgetting
Exam Tip: When this sheet is completed, make sure you learn
it well as this is the detail you would need to get into the top
grade band in the exam!!
It is VERY important that you identify/describe AND give an example of BOTH types
of cue – state and context
 When cues present at encoding are NOT present at retrieval then forgetting may occur.
 These cues may be necessary to access information that is available but not accessible.
 This theory explains ‘tip of the tongue’ phenomenon’ – describe what this is in your
own words below
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Internal Cues
………………………. State dependent Cues..”What a state she was in in Saturday night!”
*Write a definition for State Dependent Cues
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*Give an everyday example of a State Dependent Cue
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*Give a brief research example of a State Dependent Cue (use your textbooks)
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External Cues……………………… Context Dependent Cues
*Write a definition for Context Dependent Cues
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*Give an everyday example of a Context Dependent Cue
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*Give a brief research example of a Context Dependent Cue (use Godden & Baddley)
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Evaluation use (text book page 52)
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*Give a positive evaluative point for this theory (you could explain the use of cue dependency in
eyewitness testimony for example)
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Another positive evaluative point is that there is a wealth of experimental evidence to support this
theory – studies such as Godden & Baddeley and Tulving & Pearlstone have demonstrated that forgetting is
influenced by lack of cues present during retrieval .
+ What did Smith & Vela (2001) find out?
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*Baddeley argues that the effects of context dependent forgetting only occur if the ___________
where the information is learnt and retrieved are vastly _________________.
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Cue dependency is probably only a partial explanation for forgetting. It fails to explain why some
emotionally charged memories remain vivid despite the absence of state or context cues or why HAPPY
material is easier to recall than UNHAPPY material
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Give another negative evaluation point for this theory
Identify and name 3 other theories of forgetting