explanation of forgetting: interference

Question 1

what is interference?

Answer 1

• when 2 pieces of info are in conflict

- forgetting occurs in LTM when we can’t access memories even though they’re available

Question 2

what is proactive interferance?

Answer 2

• when an old memory disrupts a new one

teacher can’t learn new student names because can remember old ones

Question 3

what is retroactive interference?

Answer 3

• when a newer memory disrupts an older one

teacher learns new names but can’t remember older pupils names

Question 4

what happens when memories are similar?

Answer 4

• interference is worse
• can be because PI previously stored info makes new info harder to store
• can be becuase in RI new info overwrites previous memories that are similar

Question 5

McGeoch and McDonald (31):

what is the aim of the study?

Answer 5

• study the effects of similarity

- asked to learn and recall a list of words accurately

Question 6

McGeoch and McDonlad (31):

what is the procedure of the study?

Answer 6

• each group were then given a different list of words - each had different types of words like: synonyms, antonyms, unrelated, nonsense syllables, 3 digit numbers
• group 6 had no new list as this was the control group (participants just rested)

Question 7

McGeoch and McDonald (31):

what are the findings of the study?

Answer 7

• performance depend on mature of 2nd list
  most similar material to the first caused worst recall
• very different materialise 3 digit numbers had the best recall

Question 8

McGeoch and McDonald (31):

what is the conclusion of the study?

Answer 8

interference strongest when memories are similar
- likely that words with same meaning as first list blocked access to new material (proactive) or new material became confused with old ones (retroactive)

Question 9

+ Evidence from lab studies

Answer 9

• thousands of lab studies like McGeoch show PI and RI are common ways of forgetting LTM
• lab experiments remove variables and add confidence that interference is causing forgetting

Question 10

• Artificial materials

Answer 10

• learning words in the real world is easier than learning. syllables in a lab
• more likely to need to remember faces and dates
• artificial tasks male interference more likely

Question 11

+ Real life studies

Answer 11

Baddeley and Hitch (77) ask rugby players about teams they played

• recall didn’t depend on how long ago but how many matches played in the mean time (less games in-between = better recall)
• inference applies to some everyday situations