Explanations for Forgetting: Interference

Question 1

Explanations for Forgetting: Inference

Types of Interference

Answer 1

• Proactive interference.
• Retroactive interference.

Question 2

Explanations for Forgetting: Interference

Interference

Answer 2

• Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be forgetten or distorted.
• Forgetting information stored in LTM means the information cannot be accessed, despite being available.
• Interference between memories makes it harder to locate them, which is experienced as ‘forgetting’.

Question 3

Explanations for Forgetting: Inteference

Proactive Interference

PI

Answer 3

Occurs when an older memory disrupts the retrieval of a newer memory.

Question 4

Explanations for Forgetting: Interference

Retroactive Interference

RI

Answer 4

Occurs when a newer memory disrupts the retrieval of an older memory.

Question 5

Explanations for Forgetting: Interference

Effects of Similarity

Answer 5

• Interference is worse when memories are similar.
• McGeoch and McDonald (1931) studied retroactive interference.
• Participants learned word lists until they could recall them with 100% accuracy, then given a new list.
• Groups has different types of new lists: synonyms, antonyms, unrelated words, consonant syllables, numbers, no new list (control group).
• Most similar material produced the worse recall.

Interference is greater when interfering memories are more similar.

Question 6

Interference: Evaluation

Real-world Interference

Strength

Answer 6

• Rugby players were asked to recall all teams they had played against (week-by-week).
• Many players miss games so the match they last played may have been weeks ago.
• Players who played the most games (most interference) were the ones with the poorest recall.

Study shows inference can operate in at least some real-world situations, increasing the validity of the theory.

Question 7

Interference: Evaluation

Counterpoint

Real-world Interference

Answer 7

• Forgetting in everyday is unlikely.
• Conditions for interference to occur is rare.
• Two memories need to be fairly similar in order to interfere with each other.

Suggests that most forgetting may be better explained by retrieval failure due to a lack of cues.

Question 8

Interference: Evaluation

Interference and Cues

Limitation

Answer 8

• Interference is temporary and can be overcome with cues.
• Tulving and Psotka (1971) gave participants lists of words organised into categories.
• Recall averaged ~70% for the first list but became progressively worse as participants learned more lists.
• At the end, recall rose to ~70% when participants told the category names (cued recall).

Shows interference is a temporary loss of access to LTM material, which was not previously predicted by interference theory.

Question 9

Interference: Evaluation

Evidence of Retrograde Facilitation

Strength

Answer 9

• Researchers gave participants a list of words and asked to recall it, assuming intervening experiences would act as interference.
• When the list was learned under the influence of diazepam, recall a week later was poor (compared to control group).
• Theorised the drug prevents new information being processed so RI cannot occur.

Suggests the drug facilitated recall of material learned beforehand, showing forgetting can be due to interference.

Question 10

Interference: Evaluation

Validity Issues

Limitation

Answer 10

• Most studies supporting interference are lab-based.
• Control over confounding variables means studies show a clear link between interference and forgetting.
• However, these studies are artificial materials and unrealistic procedures.

In everyday life, we often learn something and recall it much later (eg. revising for exams).