Encoding specificity suggests that recall is improved when:

The concept of encoding specificity posits that memories are more easily retrieved when the conditions present during recall closely match those that existed during the initial encoding of the information. This is based on the idea that cues present during the learning phase create specific associations in memory. When a similar context is reinstated at the moment of recall, those cues can trigger the retrieval of the associated information, enhancing recall.

For example, if a person learns information in a particular environment, such as a classroom, recalling that information in the same environment may yield better outcomes than trying to remember it in an entirely different setting. This aligns with research indicating that our memory is context-dependent and that specific environmental cues can facilitate memory retrieval.

The other options do not align with the encoding specificity principle as directly. A time lapse may actually hinder recall unless it allows for consolidation, and presenting multiple contexts during learning may create interference rather than enhancing recall in a specific context. Although visual aids can assist in memory, they do not specifically tie to the environmental context aspect that encoding specificity emphasizes.