explanation for forgetting interference

Question 1

what is interference

Answer 1

• when two pieces of information disrupt each other resulting in forgetting of one or both
• explanation for forgetting in long term memory
• interference between memories makes it harder for us to locate them and is experienced as forgetting

Question 2

what are the types of interference

Answer 2

• proactive interference
• retroactive interference

Question 3

what is proactive interference

Answer 3

when an older memory interferes with a newer one
(teacher having difficulty remembering her new students names )

Question 4

what is retroactive interference

Answer 4

• when a newer memory interferes with an older one
• (teacher not remembering old class names )

Question 5

who did research on effects of similarity

Answer 5

McGeoch and McDonald (1931)

Question 6

how did McGeoch and McDonald (1931) study interference

Answer 6

• changed the amount of simiarlty between two sets of material
• participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them with 100% accuracy
• then they learned a new list
• group 1 -synonyms
• group 2 antonyms
• group 3 words unrelated to the original ones
  group 4 consonant syllables
  group 5 3 digit numbers
  gruop 6 just rested

Question 7

findings of McGeoch and McDonald (1931) research

Answer 7

• when participants were asked to recall the original list of words the synonyms produced the worst recall
• shows that interference is strongest when the memories are similar

Question 8

strength of interference

Answer 8

1. real world interference
   - Baddeley and Hitch (1977) asked rugby players to recall the names of the teams they played against during a rugby season
   - the players all played for the same time interval but the number of intervening games varied due to missed matches
   - players who plated the most games had the poorest recall so most interference
   - support form drug studies
   - Coenen and Luijtelaar (1997) gave participation a list of words and asked them to recall the list assuming intervening experiences would act as interference
   - found that when a list of words was learned under the influence of Diazepam recall 1 week later was poor
   - but when a list was learned before the drug was taken recall was better than the placebo
   - so drug actually improved recall of material learned as the drug prevents new information reaching the parts of the brain involved in processing memories so cannot interfere retroactively with information already stored

Question 9

limitations of interference

Answer 9

1. interference and cues
   - interference is temporary and can be overcome by using cues
   - Tulving and Psotka (1971) gave participants list of words organised into categories one list at a time
   - recall averaged 70% for the first list but became worse as participants learned each additional list (proactive interference)
   - at the end of the procedure the participants were given a cued recall rest and recall rose to 70%