Explanations for forgetting: interference

Question 1

What is interference?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Interference is an explanation for forgetting in …

Answer 2

the LTM

Question 3

Why does forgetting in the LTM occur?

Answer 3

• Can’t get access to information, even though they are available

Question 4

What are the two types of interference?

Answer 4

proactive & retroactive

Question 5

What is proactive interference?

Answer 5

• old memories interfere with new memories
  e.g. learning a new language and constantly slipping back into native language
  e.g. calling your new bf your old bf name

Question 6

What is retroactive interference?

Answer 6

• new memories interfere with old memories
  e.g. forgot old phone number as new number has replaced
  e.g. memory of new car registration number prevents recall of previous car registration number

Question 7

Who did research on the effects of similarity of information?

Answer 7

McGeoch & McDonald

Question 8

What was McGeoch & McDonald’s hypothesis?

Answer 8

In both PI & RI , the interference is worse when memories (learning) are similar

Question 9

What was McGeoch & McDonald’s procedure?

Answer 9

• studied RI by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials
• P’s had to learn list of 10 words until they could recall with 100% accuracy
• They then learnt a new word list

Question 10

How were the groups split in McGeoch and McDonalds study in terms of what they had to learn in their new lists?

Answer 10

• six groups of P’s
• Group 1-synonyms (words with same meanings as originals)
• Group 2 -antonyms (words with opposite meanings to originals)
• Group 3- words unrelated to original ones
• Group 4- consonant syllables
• Group 5- three digit numbers
  -Group 6- no new list (rested) -control

Question 11

What were McGeoch & McDonalds findings and conclusions?

Answer 11

• When P’s asked to recall original list of words the most similar material (synonyms) produced the worse recall
  -This shows interference is stronger when the memories are similar

Question 12

Explanation of the effects of similarity

Answer 12

• either proactive interference or retroactive interference

Question 13

What evidence is there to support effects of interference?

Answer 13

• evidence of interference in everyday situations
• Baddeley & Hitch asked rugby players to recall names of teams they had played during the season
• number of intervening games varied because some missed matches due to injury
• players who played the most games (most interference for memory) had the poorest recall
• increased validity as it shows interference can operate in the real- world

Question 14

What is the counterpoint against the real- world effects of interference?

Answer 14

• interference may cause some forgetting but it is unusual
• conditions necessary for interference to occur are rare
• e.g. two memories similar for interference to occur happens occasionally
• forgetting thus can be better explained by retrieval failure due to lack of cues

Question 15

What is the limitation that interference is temporary & can be overcome by cues?

Answer 15

-Tulving & Potska gave P’s lists of words organised into categories, one list at a time (didn’t know categories)
- recall=70% for first list but became worse as P learnt new list (PI)
- at end of procedure p’s were given cued recall test (told name of categories)
- recall rose back to 70%
- interference causes temporary loss of access to material - not predicted by theory

Question 16

What support is there from drug studies?

Answer 16

• evidence of retrograde facilitation
• Researchers gave P’s list of words and later asked them to recall list assuming the intervening experiences would act as interference
• found that when list of words was learned under influence of drug > recall one week later =poor than placebo group
• but when list learned before drug was taken > recall better than placebo
• drug facilitated recall of material > drug prevents new info interfering retroactively with info already stored