2.4: The interference theory (IT)

Question 1

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks)

Answer 1

The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory

Question 2

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
When is interference more likely?

Answer 2

Interference is more likely when material is similar

Question 3

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Why is interference more likely when material is similar?

Answer 3

Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition

Question 4

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
What may newer information do?

Answer 4

Newer information may overwrite earlier information

Question 5

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, when is interference less likely to occur?

Answer 5

However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning

Question 6

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
How can this occur?

Answer 6

This can occur as proactive interference or as retroactive interference

Question 7

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
This can occur as proactive interference, where what, or as retroactive interference?

Answer 7

This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material or as retroactive interference

Question 8

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as what) or as retroactive interference?

Answer 8

This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference

Question 9

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference, where what?

Answer 9

This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference, where more recently coded material interferes with the recall of previously coded material

Question 10

Outline one explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference, where more recently coded material interferes with the recall of previously coded material (such as what?)

Answer 10

This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference, where more recently coded material interferes with the recall of previously coded material (such as the memory of a new car registration number preventing recall of an older one)

Question 11

Aaron was upset as he left the Spanish exam. In the unfamiliar room and full of nerves, his mind had gone completely blank. He was regretting studying both French and Spanish because he was sure he had mixed up lots of the words.

Outline one explanation of forgetting (4 marks).
How might this explanation account for Aaron’s poor performance in the Spanish exam?

The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference, where more recently coded material interferes with the recall of previously coded material (such as the memory of a new car registration number preventing recall of an older one).

What has Aaron done?

Answer 11

Aaron has confused words from another subject

Question 12

Aaron was upset as he left the Spanish exam. In the unfamiliar room and full of nerves, his mind had gone completely blank. He was regretting studying both French and Spanish because he was sure he had mixed up lots of the words.

Outline one explanation of forgetting (4 marks).
How might this explanation account for Aaron’s poor performance in the Spanish exam?

The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference, where more recently coded material interferes with the recall of previously coded material (such as the memory of a new car registration number preventing recall of an older one).

Aaron has confused words from another subject, which has caused him to do what?

Answer 12

Aaron has confused words from another subject, which has caused him to forget

Question 13

Aaron was upset as he left the Spanish exam. In the unfamiliar room and full of nerves, his mind had gone completely blank. He was regretting studying both French and Spanish because he was sure he had mixed up lots of the words.

Outline one explanation of forgetting (4 marks).
How might this explanation account for Aaron’s poor performance in the Spanish exam?

The interference theory is where forgetting occurs when similar material is confused at recall from long-term memory.
Interference is more likely when material is similar, because it creates response competition.
Newer information may overwrite earlier information.
However, interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of learning.
This can occur as proactive interference, where previously stored information interferes with the recall of more recently learned material (such as the memory of an old phone number disrupting attempts to recall a new phone number), or as retroactive interference, where more recently coded material interferes with the recall of previously coded material (such as the memory of a new car registration number preventing recall of an older one).

Aaron has confused words from another subject, which has caused him to forget.
Why is interference likely in this case?

Answer 13

Interference is likely in this case, because French and Spanish are similar

Question 14

Briefly evaluate interference theory as an explanation of forgetting (4 marks)

Answer 14

There is research support for interference theory as an explanation of forgetting

Question 15

Briefly evaluate interference theory as an explanation of forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for interference theory as an explanation of forgetting.
Example

Answer 15

For example, McGeoch and McDonald studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between 2 sets of material

Question 16

Briefly evaluate interference theory as an explanation of forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for interference theory as an explanation of forgetting.
For example, McGeoch and McDonald studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between 2 sets of material and found what?

Answer 16

For example, McGeoch and McDonald studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between 2 sets of material and found that the more similar the inference is to the words being remembered, the worse recall is

Question 17

Briefly evaluate interference theory as an explanation of forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for interference theory as an explanation of forgetting.
For example, McGeoch and McDonald studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between 2 sets of material and found that the more similar the inference is to the words being remembered, the worse recall is.
What does this suggest?

Answer 17

This suggests that interference is a valid explanation of forgetting

Question 18

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks)

Answer 18

Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’

Question 19

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’.
What is there a lack of?

Answer 19

There is a lack of external contextual cues

Question 20

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’.
There is a lack of external contextual cues, where what?

Answer 20

There is a lack of external contextual cues, where the environment for learning and recall is different

Question 21

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’.
There is a lack of external contextual cues, where the environment for learning and recall is different, for example what?

Answer 21

There is a lack of external contextual cues, where the environment for learning and recall is different, for example being in a different room

Question 22

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’.
There is a lack of external contextual cues, where the environment for learning and recall is different, for example being in a different room.
What is there also a lack of?

Answer 22

There is also a lack of internal contextual cues

Question 23

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’.
There is a lack of external contextual cues, where the environment for learning and recall is different, for example being in a different room.
There is also a lack of internal contextual cues, where what?

Answer 23

There is also a lack of internal contextual cues, where the physical state for learning and recall is different

Question 24

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’.
There is a lack of external contextual cues, where the environment for learning and recall is different, for example being in a different room.
There is also a lack of internal contextual cues, where the physical state for learning and recall is different, for example what?

Answer 24

There is also a lack of internal contextual cues, where the physical state for learning and recall is different, for example being in a different mood

Question 25

Outline retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
Retrieval failure is when material is stored in the LTM, but cannot be consciously recalled due to a lack of retrieval cues to ‘jog the memory’.
There is a lack of external contextual cues, where the environment for learning and recall is different, for example being in a different room.
There is also a lack of internal contextual cues, where the physical state for learning and recall is different, for example being in a different mood.
What do the types of cues that have been studied by psychologists include?

Answer 25

The types of cues that have been studied by psychologists include context, state and organisation

Question 26

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks)

Answer 26

There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting

Question 27

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting.
Example

Answer 27

For example, Godden and Baddeley carried out a study of deep sea divers working underwater

Question 28

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting.
For example, Godden and Baddeley carried out a study of deep sea divers working underwater.
What happened to the divers?

Answer 28

The divers learned a list of words underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land

Question 29

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting.
For example, Godden and Baddeley carried out a study of deep sea divers working underwater.
The divers learned a list of words underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land (creating what?)

Answer 29

The divers learned a list of words underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land (creating 4 conditions)

Question 30

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting.
For example, Godden and Baddeley carried out a study of deep sea divers working underwater.
The divers learned a list of words underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land (creating 4 conditions).
In 2 of these conditions, what?

Answer 30

In 2 of these conditions, the environmental contexts of learning and recall matched

Question 31

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting.
For example, Godden and Baddeley carried out a study of deep sea divers working underwater.
The divers learned a list of words underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land (creating 4 conditions).
In 2 of these conditions, the environmental contexts of learning and recall matched, whereas in the other 2 conditions, what?

Answer 31

In 2 of these conditions, the environmental contexts of learning and recall matched, whereas in the other 2 conditions, they did not

Question 32

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting.
For example, Godden and Baddeley carried out a study of deep sea divers working underwater.
The divers learned a list of words underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land (creating 4 conditions).
In 2 of these conditions, the environmental contexts of learning and recall matched, whereas in the other 2 conditions, they did not.
Accurate recall was what in the non-matching conditions?

Answer 32

Accurate recall was 40% lower in the non-matching conditions

Question 33

Briefly evaluate retrieval failure as an explanation for forgetting (4 marks).
There is research support for retrieval failure an as explanation for forgetting.
For example, Godden and Baddeley carried out a study of deep sea divers working underwater.
The divers learned a list of words underwater or on land and then were asked to recall the words either underwater or on land (creating 4 conditions).
In 2 of these conditions, the environmental contexts of learning and recall matched, whereas in the other 2 conditions, they did not.
Accurate recall was 40% lower in the non-matching conditions.
What does this suggest?

Answer 33

This suggests that retrieval failure is a valid explanation for forgetting