Explainations for forgetting interference

Question 1

What does inference mean

Answer 1

*Interference refers to when two pieces of information conflict with each other
*Resulting in forgetting of one or both memories

Question 2

What is proactive interference

One of the two types of interference

Answer 2

An older memory interferes with a newer one. E.g., your teacher has learned so many names in the past that she has difficulty remembering the names of her current class

Question 3

Outline retroactive interference as an explanation for forgetting. (4)

Answer 3

• Newer memory disrupts an older memory: the older
  information is forgotten
• two lots of information become mixed up in memory
• retroactive interference is greater when the two lots of information are similar
• retroactive interference is less likely to occur when there is a gap between the instances of
  learning.

Question 4

What are the effects of similarity (reinforced by a study) (5)

I

Answer 4

• McGeoch and McDonald (1931)In this study, participants were asked to remember a list of words until they could recall it perfectly.
• Then, participants had to learn a new, second list. There were six groups, and each learned a different set of words for the second list.
• Group 1, who learned the list with the most similar material (synonyms), had the worst recall.
• Group 5, who learned the most irrelevant material (numbers), had the best recall, apart from the control group.
• It was concluded that the more similar information is, the more likely it will interfere retroactively with older memories.

Question 5

Retroactive interference in the context of street names

shows retroactive interference Makes itHarderToRecallOldNames

Answer 5

• Schmidt et al 2000-investigated retroactive interference using the memory of childhood street names.
• 11-79 yr olds were sent a questionnaire containing a map of the areas around their old school without street names
• It was found that the more time an individual moved homes, the fewer street names were recalled,
• a negative correlation between number of times moved house and street names recalled.
• This suggests retroactive interference the process of remembering new streets makes interference previously stored LTM of Old street, making recall of older names harder

Question 6

Strength for proactive interference

Remebering paired word lists

Answer 6

• Greenberg and Underwood (1950) asked participants to learn 10 paired word lists then gave participants 48 hrs before recall.
• This was repeated 4 times. it was found the number of correctly recalled word pairs decreased the more word pairs had been previously learnt.
• This provides evidence for proactive interference, as the previously learnt word combinations caused confusion in the coding of the later word lists,interfering with the accurate recall of later learnt word lists