Explanations for forgetting: Interference MEM

Question 1

interference

Answer 1

forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten

Question 2

proactive interference PI

Answer 2

forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories. The degree of forgetting is greater when the memories are similar.

Question 3

retroactive interference RI

Answer 3

forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored. The degree of forgetting is again greater when the memories are similar

Question 4

When does interference occur?

Answer 4

• two pieces of information disrupt each other
• when the information is similar

Question 5

+psychologists

Research on the effects of similarity

procedure

Answer 5

McGeoch and McDonald →Interference is worse when the memories are similar

Procedure:
- Studied RI
- Changing amount of similarity between 2 sets of materials
- Participants learnt a list of 10 words until they could remember all of them
- Then they learnt a new list

There were 6 groups of participants and they had to learn these different types of lists: synonyms, antonyms, words unrated to the original ones, consonant syllables, three-digit numbers, no new list (control group).

Question 6

Research on the effects of similarity

findings and conclusion

Answer 6

The most similar material (synonyms) produced the worst recall. Interference is strongest when memories are the most similar.

Question 7

real world application

strength + counterpoint

Answer 7

Evidence of interference effects in more everyday situation
- **Baddley **and Hitch asked rugby players to recall names of opposing teams
- Number of matches played varied
- Players who played the most games had the worst recall
Increases the validity of the theory

• unusual for interference to cause forgetting in everyday situations
• Relatively rare
  Forgetting may be better explained by other theories such as retrieval failure due to lack of cues.

Question 8

support from drug studies

strength

Answer 8

Evidence of retrograde facilitation
- **Coenen **and Van Luijtelaar used lists of words
- Words learned under diazepam was poor
- Words learned before the drug was taken had better recall
- Wixted suggests that the drug prevents new information from being learned
Forgetting can be due to interference → reduce interference and reduce the forgetting

Question 9

interference and cues

limitation

Answer 9

Interference is temporary and can be overcome using cues
- Tulving and Psotka gave categorised words
- Recall averaged 70% on first list → dropped when more lists were added
- With cues it went back up to 70%
Interference causes a temporary loss of accessibility to material that is still in LTM

Question 10

validity issues

limitation

Answer 10

Lab based research has control over confounding variables so studies show a clear link between interference and forgetting BUT the studies use artificial materials and unrealistic procedures