The contribution of category-based and contextual suppression towards retrieval-induced forgetting

Abstract

This study examines whether both context-related and category-related memory impairment can be found using a retrieval-induced forgetting procedure. One group of participants was tested using a standard retrieval-practice paradigm, whereas for the no-practice group the retrieval practice was replaced by irrelevant filler activity. The results showed that the within-participant baseline items were recalled more poorly by the practice group than by the no-practice group, whereas the practice group showed the standard retrieval-induced forgetting effect. Thus, retrieval practice impaired recall for both within-category and baseline items, although it impaired the former to a greater extent. This finding suggests that it is necessary to consider not only categorical relationships between items, but also context information shared by items when exploring retrieval-induced forgetting. © 2006 Japanese Psychological Association.