Did you know your memory works better when the learning and recall happen in the same context? Psychologists call this context-dependent memory.
The classic Godden and Baddeley study (1975) proved it brilliantly. Divers who learned word lists underwater remembered them best underwater. Those who learned on land? They recalled better on land. The context made all the difference.
And it’s not just about scuba gear. Even subtle changes matter: people who studied in noisy rooms remembered better if they were tested in noisy rooms, while those in quiet rooms did better when tested in quiet rooms.
Research shows context effects appear in classrooms, offices, and everyday life. And context isn’t just about location. It also includes your emotional state, level of fatigue, or even whether you’ve had a drink (yes, really).
Even better, simply imagining the original learning environment can boost recall. That means mental imagery can help recreate the context when the real thing isn’t available.
So here’s your challenge:
• Can you design training that matches the environment where learners will use the knowledge?
• Or build follow-up activities that encourage learners to mentally step back into that original learning setting?
Try it, and watch recall go up.
