Explanations for forgetting Flashcards
what is interference theory of forgetting?
- we forget bc our long term memories become confused by other info when its coded
what is proactive interference?
- old info disrupts new
- interference works forward in time
- old info already stored interferes with recalling smth new
what is retroactive interference?
- new info disrupts old
- interference works backwards in time
- new info being stored interferes with the recall of old info
how similarity affects interference :
- info= more similar interference is more likely to occur
- due to response competition
how time sensitivity affects interference:
- interference= less likely when there’s a large gap between when learnt
evaluative research on interference: Schmidt (2000) retroactive interference in street names
- 11-79 y/o sent questionnaire w map of old school streets w/o street names
- more the ppl moved the less street names they could recall= neg correlation
- retroactive interference shown
- remembering old street names interferes w/ previously learnt LTM of old street names
Evaluative research on interference: Greenberg and Underwood (1950) learn 10 paired word list
- gave pp 48 hrs b4 recall + repeated 4 times
- number of correctly recalled word pairs decreased to more word pairs they learnt previously
- shows proactive interference
- previously learnt word pair combos caused confusion in coding of later word lists
what is retrieval failure due to the absence of cues?
- info is in LTM but cant access
- no relevant cues that were present at the same time of encoding
what are context dependent cues?
- aspects of external environment works as cues to memory
- being in diff place may inhibit memory= lack of environmental cues
research on context dependent cues: Godden and Baddeley, divers on land or in water
- asked to learn material on land or underwater, tested then on land or underwater
- recall was worse when asked to in a diff context
- recall was best when asked to recall in same context
- being in same environment for learning and recall helps bcs of cues
what are state dependent cues?
- cues of our internal environment
- being in diff emotional state= inhibits memory as we lack state dependent cues
research on state dependent cues: Overton, drunk or sober recall
- asked to learn info when drunk or sober
- asked to recall when drunk or sober
- recall was worse when in diff internal state
- recall was best when in sam internal state
- same state aids recall bc of state dependent cues
what is category dependent cues?
- providing cues that relate to the organisation of memories may aid recall
- easier to find a file, if draws are labelled
- most effective cues have the least things associated w them
- lack of organisation may inhibit memory
research on category dependent cues: Tulving and Palestone, asked to learn 48 words
- used either free recall
- or recall that matched words to 12x4 word categories
- recalled more in category condition
- categories= cues aiding recall
Evaluations: strength, real practical applications of research
- research has real practical applications
- helps students develop revision techniques
- context cues have been used by police to improve recall= cognitive interview
Evaluations: limitations, only explains temporary loss not forgetting
- interference and cue theory explains temporary loss not forgetting
- interference may be over-writing of other info or making it inaccessible
Evaluations: limitations, interference only explains when info is similar
- only explains when info is similar or learnt in same time period
- struggles to explain day to day forgetting e.g. someones bday
Evaluations: limitations, research lacks mundane realism
- interference research= lab experiments w/ artificial tasks
- low external validity
- interference may not occur in same way irl
- reduces confidence as using it as an explanation for forgetting
