Partial List Cuing Effect

The partial list cuing effect, also known as part-set cuing deficit or retrieval-induced forgetting, is similar to collaborative inhibition. It refers to a counterintuitive phenomenon in which cuing (or priming) is detrimental to memory performance. Normally, memory is enhanced when adequate retrieval cues are provided. It is much easier to recognize something because of a retrieval cue (like a multiple choice test) than to recall something from scratch (like a fill in the blank test). In this case, cuing may interrupt memory retrieval, or cause the individual to place too much faith in the cuing process and not enough faith in their own memory.