4 - Explanations For Forgetting: Interference

Question 1

What is forgetting?

Answer 1

Loss of info/ inability to retrieve info from the LTM store

Question 2

What are the two explanations for forgetting?

Answer 2

Interference + retrieval failure

Question 3

What is interference?

Answer 3

When two pieces of info are in conflict, resulting in forgetting or distorting one or both memories

Question 4

What are the two types of interference?

Answer 4

• Pro-active interference

- Retroactive interference

Question 5

What is pro-active interference (PI)?

Answer 5

An older memory interferes with a newer memory

PAST memories are disruptive

Question 6

Give an example of pro-active interference

Answer 6

Teacher cannot remember names of new class, because of the conflicting memory of the names of her old class

Question 7

What is retroactive interference (RI)?

Answer 7

A newer memory interferes with an older one

RECENT memory is disruptive

Question 8

Give an example of retroactive interference

Answer 8

Learn new phone number, so cannot remember old one

Question 9

If memories (recent + older) are similar, what effect does this have on forgetting due to interference?

Answer 9

Interference (+ forgetting) is more common

Question 10

Why does having similar memories increase proactive interference?

Answer 10

Existence of old info makes it harder to store similar new info

Question 11

Why does having similar memories increase retroactive interference?

Answer 11

New info overwrites similar old info, so old info is no longer stored

Question 12

Who did a lab experiment to support the effects of similarity (of memories) on interference? When?

Answer 12

McGeoch + McDonald (1931)

Question 13

Outline McGeoch + McDonald’s 1931 study on the effects of similarity?

Answer 13

Aim:
- To investigate the effects of the similarity of memories on the amount of interference
Procedure:
- Ppts given list of words to learn to 100% accurate recall
- Split into independent groups and given new list to learn as well…
Condition 1: synonyms
Condition 2: antonyms
Condition 3: unrelated words
Condition 4: consonant syllables
Condition 5: three digit numbers
Condition 6: no list (control condition)
Findings:
- Recall ability depended on second list
- The more similar the first + second list, the worse the recall of the lists (more PI + RI)
- Worst recall in condition 1 (synonyms, because words most similar)
Conclusion:
- Interference is strongest when memories are similar

Question 14

Give 2 positive evaluation points for interference as an explanation for forgetting

Answer 14

Research support from lab studies

• Lab studies have high control of extraneous variables, increasing internal validity
• Many lab studies have produced findings to support PI + RI
• E.g. McGeoch + McDonald 1931 - supported PI, RI + effect of similarity

Research support from real life studies

• Baddeley + Hitch (1977)
• Asked rugby players to recall teams played in season
• Recall wasn’t dependent on how long ago match was, it was dependent on number of matches since
• Interference clearly has day-to-day effect

Question 15

Give 2 negative evaluation points for interference as an explanation for forgetting

Answer 15

Low external validity of supporting research

• Used artificial stimuli, which may increase forgetting because info isn’t relevant
• Used short time periods, which may decrease forgetting because there is less time to forget
• These two factors reduce mundane realism, lowering generalisability

No recognition that interference may be overcome using cues

• Tulving + Psotka (1971) proved cues made info in LTM more easily accessible, countering interference
• Ppts given 5 lists of 24 words, each list had 6 implicit categories
• As each additional list was learned, recall fell (from 70% accuracy of original list), presumably due to interference
• Recall increased back to 70% when cues (names of categories) given