Explanations For Forgetting - Interference

Question 1

What is interference?

Answer 1

When two pieces of information disrupt each other, resulting in forgetting or distortion of memory

Question 2

Proactive interference (PI)

Answer 2

When older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories

Question 3

Retroactive interference (RI)

Answer 3

When newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored

Question 4

McGeoch and McDonald (1931) procedure

Answer 4

P’s had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them all with 100% accuracy, then a new list (either synonyms, antonyms, unrelated, consonant syllables, three-digit numbers or no new list at all)

Question 5

McGeoch and McDonald (1931) findings

Answer 5

When p’s were asked to recall the original list of words, the synonym group produced the worst recall, suggesting interference is strongest when memories are similar

Question 6

Strengths of interference

Answer 6

• Reliable results (eg. Baddeley & Hitch found rugby players who played more games could recall less team names)
• Research support for proactive interference (eg. Schmidt found the more people moved, the less street names remembered)

Question 7

Limitations of interference

Answer 7

• Individual differences (eg. Individuals with a greater WM span are less susceptible to interference)
• Research lacks ecological validity (eg. Participants learned meaningless list of words, lacking mundane realism)