Explanations for forgetting Flashcards
Outline what is meant by inference
The type of forgetting caused by one memory disrupting another
Describe what is meant by retroactive interference?
Where new information learnt interferes with the ability to recall old information
Describe what is meant by proactive interference?
Where old memories of info interfere with the ability to learn new information
Describe the Mcgeoch and Mcdonald case study
-studied retroactive interference
-ppt learned list of words
-ppt given a 2nd list of either words or numbers to learn
-ppt asked to recall first list
-the more similar the second list to the first the worse the recall of the first
What does the Mcgeoch and Mcdonald case study show?
That similarity increases the effects of retroactive interference
What’s a strength and a limitation of the Mcgeoch and Mcdonald case study
A- supports theory, new list interfering recall of old list
D- Low external validity, the time gap between learning and recall in the study is very short, so there’s an exaduration of the effects of interference
Describe the procedure and findings of Baddeley and Hitches study
-asked rugby players to recall all matches in season (inc team names and scores)
-players had better memory of the teams if they had played less games
-but how long ago the matches were wasn’t important
findings
-Shows interference is due to similarity rather than time
What are 2 strengths of Baddeley and Hitches study?
-Supports interference, shows similarity increases interference as more games planed inc interference
-natural study, high external validity shows interference occurs in real life
Describe the Procedure and Findings of Burke and Skrull’s study
-gave ppt magazines ads to recall from memory
-the more similar the products were, the worse the recall
What’s 2 strengths of Burke and Skrull’s study?
Real life application, marketers know not to place similar products near each other or people may forget
Uses real life material so high external validity
How does using cues effect levels of inteference?
Tulving and Psotka showed that the effect of cues reduces interference
What 3 things effect interference?
-similarity
-time between learning
-use of cues
