2.5 Explanations for forgetting: Interference

Question 1

Define proactive interference?

Answer 1

Old information interferes with the retrieval of new information.

Question 2

Define retroactive interference?

Answer 2

New information interferes with the retrieval of old information.

Question 3

What is interference?

Answer 3

One memory disturbs the ability to recall another. This might result in the forgetting or disturbing of information.
This is more likely to happen if the memories are similar.

Question 4

How did Baddeley and Hitch’s 1977 study support the interference theory of forgetting?

Answer 4

Rugby players over the course of a season.
Players who were injured half way through the rugby season, and ultimately played less games were able to recall more facts that those who played for the full season.
This supports retroactive interference.

Question 5

summarise explanations for forgetting: Interference

Answer 5

retroactive interference - old interferes with the new
Muller and Pilzecker - recall was less good if there was an intervening task between learning and recall
proactive interference - new interferes with the old
underwood - analysed many studies, the more lists learned the lower the percentage of accurate recall
Baddeley and Hitch - rugby players who played fewer games had better recall of teams played against due to less interference

Question 6

evaluation of explanations for forgetting : interference

Answer 6

artificial research - words and nonsense syllables, and low motivation. doesn’t represent everyday memory
limited to some situations of forgetting, where two sets of stimuli are quite similar
Ceraso - spontaneous recovery of recognition memory after interference suggests memories are available but not accessible
real world application - competing advertisements reduce their effect because of interference
individual differences - people with greater working memory span are less susceptible to proactive interference