Explanations For Forgetting - Interference Flashcards
What is interference?
When two pieces of information disrupt each other, resulting in forgetting or distortion of memory
Proactive interference (PI)
When older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories
Retroactive interference (RI)
When newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored
McGeoch and McDonald (1931) procedure
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)
McGeoch and McDonald (1931) findings
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
Strengths of interference
- 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)
Limitations of interference
- 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)