Explanations for forgetting: interference Flashcards
What is interference?
- when we forget because one memory blocks another causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
Interference is an explanation for forgetting in …
the LTM
Why does forgetting in the LTM occur?
- Can’t get access to information, even though they are available
What are the two types of interference?
proactive & retroactive
What is proactive interference?
- old memories disrupts recall of 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
What is retroactive interference?
- new memories disrupts recall of 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
Who did research on the effects of similarity of information and their hypothesis?
McGeoch & McDonald >
interference is worse when memories (learning) are similar
What was McGeoch & McDonald’s procedure?
- studied RI by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials
- P’s had to learn list of words until they could recall with 100% accuracy
- They then learnt a new word list
What were McGeoch & McDonalds findings and conclusions?
- When P’s asked to recall original list of words the most similar material (synonyms) produced the worse recall compared to groups with antonyms, numbers, consonant syllables, no list etc
- This shows interference is stronger when the memories are similar
What is the explanation of the effects of similarity?
- either proactive interference or retroactive interference
What is a strength of research into interference?
- evidence of interference in everyday situations
- Baddeley & Hitch asked rugby players to recall names of teams they had played during the season
- the number of intervening games varied because some players 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
What is the counterpoint against the real- world effects of interference?
- interference may cause some forgetting but it is unusual
- conditions necessary for interference to occur are rare
- real life is not like lab studies where esearcher can create ideal situations for interference to occur
- forgetting thus can be better explained by retrieval failure due to lack of cues
What is a limitation of interference as an explanation for forgetting?
- forgetting is temporary & can be overcome by cues
- Tulving & Potska gave P’s lists of words organised into categories to learn, 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 a cued recall test (told name of categories)
- recall rose back to 70%
- interference causes temporary loss of access to material - not predicted by theory
What is another strength of research into interference?
- McGeoch & McDonald > studied RI by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials > P’s had to learn list of words until they could recall with 100% accuracy
- They then learnt a new word list
- When P’s asked to recall original list of words, the most similar material (synonyms) produced the worse recall compared to groups with antonyms, numbers, consonant syllables, no list etc
- This shows interference is stronger when the memories are similar
What is another limitation of research on interference?
- interference research is often criticised for being artificial and lacking ecological validity
- Most of the research examining interference is carried out in a laboratory
- do not represent everyday examples of interference (or forgetting) and are limited in their application to everyday human memory
