In the context of the three box model of memory, which type of failure occurs when information has never entered long-term memory?

• A. Encoding failure
• B. Storage decay
• C. Interference
• D. Retrieval failure

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the three-box model of memory, which includes sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory, and how information flows through these stages.
2. Identify that the question asks about a failure occurring when information never enters long-term memory, meaning it did not successfully move from short-term to long-term storage.
3. Recall that encoding is the process of transforming information from short-term memory into a form that can be stored in long-term memory.
4. Recognize that if information never reaches long-term memory, the failure is due to a problem with encoding, not storage decay (which happens after information is stored), interference (which disrupts stored information), or retrieval failure (which is difficulty accessing stored information).
5. Conclude that the type of failure described is an encoding failure, where the information was never properly encoded into long-term memory.