Encoding Specificity Principle in Psychology

Encoding Specificity Principle

• The encoding specificity principle states that matching the circumstances of encoding and retrieval aids memory retrieval.
• This principle is also known as context-dependent retrieval.

Factors Influencing Retrieval

• Location: the place where learning takes place can influence retrieval.
• Mood: the emotional state during learning can influence retrieval.
• Physical state: the physical condition of the body during learning can influence retrieval.

Godden and Baddeley's Experiment (1975)

• Participants: deep sea divers
• Method: half of the participants memorized a list of spoken words on land, and half underwater.
• Half of the participants switched locations for retrieval, and half stayed in the same location.
• Results:
  • Best retrieval occurred when the encoding and retrieval conditions matched.
  • On land, 40% of words were retrieved when learned on land, and 38% when learned underwater.
  • Underwater, 35% of words were retrieved when learned on land, and 32% when learned underwater.

Encoding-Retrieval Interactions

• When we learn something for the first time, we associate many aspects of the environment with our learning experience.
• These aspects of the environment serve as a cue for retrieving information.
• Matching the circumstances of encoding and retrieval aids memory retrieval because it provides a stronger cue for retrieval.

Learn about the encoding specificity principle, which states that memory retrieval is influenced by the similarity between the conditions of learning and testing. Explore how factors like location, mood, and physical state affect memory recall.