Final Answer:
Carson not recognizing his economics professor, Dr. Fronz, when bumping into him at the grocery store is an example of context-dependent memory.
Step-by-step explanation:
This phenomenon can be explained by the context-dependent memory theory, which suggests that our ability to recall information is influenced by the environment or situation in which the information was learned. In Carson's case, he is used to seeing Dr. Fronz in the academic setting of the economics classroom.
The change in environment, such as encountering his professor in a casual setting like a grocery store, disrupts the usual context cues associated with the memory of Dr. Fronz. As a result, Carson may struggle to recognize his professor because the context has changed.
Moreover, the encoding specificity principle plays a role here. According to this principle, the effectiveness of memory retrieval is dependent on the match between the cues present at encoding (learning) and those at retrieval. In the classroom, cues like the specific location, classroom setting, and the academic context contribute to Carson's memory of Dr. Fronz. In the grocery store, these cues are absent or different, leading to a failure in recognition.
In summary, Carson's inability to recognize his economics professor in a different context highlights the role of context-dependent memory and the encoding specificity principle in shaping our ability to recall information based on the environmental cues present during learning.