Authors: Glenn J. Browne, Radha Appan
Tags: 2005
Research in information requirements determination
(IRD) has identified cognitive limitations of users as a
major barrier to the success of the process. The present
research analyzes one such limitation: users forgetting
important requirements as a result of analysts’ elicitation
of related requirements. Research in cognitive psychology
has demonstrated that the act of remembering can prompt
forgetting of other related information. This phenomenon
has been termed Retrieval Induced Forgetting (RIF). RIF
has been clearly demonstrated in contexts such as the
eyewitness memory paradigm, in which repeated
questioning of eyewitnesses results in enhancing the
recall of information previously recalled while inducing
the forgetting of related information. Despite the high
degree of vulnerability of IRD participants to RIF, no
research has examined this phenomenon. The present
research investigates RIF in the context of requirements
elicitation and demonstrates that the phenomenon
operates strongly in this environment. Implications for
theory and practice are discussed.
Cite as:
Appan R., Browne G.J. (2005). “Retrieval Induced Forgetting During Information Requirements Elicitation,” in AIS SIGSAND 2005, Cincinnati, OHIO, United States, April 23-24, 2005.
