Final answer:
Retrieval pulls learned information out of memory for use or learning new information. Forms include recall, recognition, and relearning. Elaborative rehearsal can enhance retrieval by linking new information to what is already known.
Step-by-step explanation:
Retrieval involves taking information that a person has already learned out of storage in order to learn new information or recall previously learned content. It is the act of getting information out of memory storage and back into conscious awareness. There are several forms of retrieval, including recall, recognition, and relearning.
Recall is accessing information without cues. Recognition involves identifying previously learned information after encountering it again. Relearning is learning information that you previously learned, which often happens much faster than the initial learning.
For example, someone who took Spanish in high school will find it easier to relearn the language later in life. This is due to the fact that the knowledge is being pulled out of long-term memory. Effective techniques like elaborative rehearsal, which links new information to knowledge already stored, can significantly enhance the retrieval process.