Replication and Analysis of Ebbinghaus’ Forgetting Curve

We present a successful replication of Ebbinghaus' classic forgetting curve from 1880 based on the method of savings. One subject spent 70 hours learning lists and relearning them after 20 min, 1 hour, 9 hours, 1 day, 2 days, or 31 days. The results are similar to Ebbinghaus' original data...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPloS one Vol. 10; no. 7; p. e0120644
Main Authors Murre, Jaap M. J., Dros, Joeri
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Public Library of Science 06.07.2015
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects
Amnesia
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive ability
Data processing
Experimental psychology
Experiments
Humans
Learning
Lists
Mathematical models
Memory
Neurosciences
Psychology
Relearning
Replication
Retention
Studies
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Summary:We present a successful replication of Ebbinghaus' classic forgetting curve from 1880 based on the method of savings. One subject spent 70 hours learning lists and relearning them after 20 min, 1 hour, 9 hours, 1 day, 2 days, or 31 days. The results are similar to Ebbinghaus' original data. We analyze the effects of serial position on forgetting and investigate what mathematical equations present a good fit to the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve and its replications. We conclude that the Ebbinghaus forgetting curve has indeed been replicated and that it is not completely smooth but most probably shows a jump upwards starting at the 24 hour data point.
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Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Conceived and designed the experiments: JMJM JD. Performed the experiments: JD. Analyzed the data: JMJM JD. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: JMJM JD. Wrote the paper: JMJM JD.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0120644