5) Explanations for Forgetting : Interfering Flashcards
What is interference
When two pieces of information disrupt each other, leading to forgetting and inability to recall
2 Types of Interference and definition
Proactive Interference - where an old memory interferes with a new one
Retroactive Interference - new interferes with old
When is interference worse
When memories are similar,
either because:
- in PI previously stored information makes it harder to store new info
- in RI new info overwrites previous memories which are similar
Study for Effects of Similarity
McGeoch and McDonald
What were participants asked to do in the study of McGeoch and McDonald
Asked to learn a list of words with 100% accuracy, then given a new list of words which varied between the 6 groups where it came to similarity
What were the finding in McGeoch and McDonald’s study
- Performance was depended on the nature of the second list, the most similar list produces the worst recall
- Shows interference is strongest when memories are similar
EV of Interference - real world situations
- Baddeley and Hitch, asked rugby players to recall the names of teams they had played against
- Not all players played the same number of games (injuries) those who played most had poorest recall
- Shows interference operates in some everyday situations, increased validity
EV of Interference - effects may be overcome using cues (limitation)
- Tulving gave participants lists of words organised into categories
- recall of first list was 70% but fell with each new list, when given a cued recall test recall rose again to 70%
- Showing interference causes just a temporary loss of access to material still in LTM
EV of Interference - support from drug studies
- Material learned before taking diazepam recalled better than a placebo group one week later (retrograde facilitation)
- Drug stopped new information reaching brain areas that process memories
-Showing forgetting is due to interference, reducing the interference reduced the forgetting
