Explanations For Forgetting (interference)

Question 1

When does interference occur?

Answer 1

When 2 pieces of info conflict with each other, resulting in forgetting 1 or both pieces of info or distortion of memory

Question 2

Proactive interference

Answer 2

Occurs when old info stored in ltm interferes with the learning of new info

Usually occurs when new info is similar to the old info

Question 3

Retroactive interference

Answer 3

Occurs when the learning of new info interferes with the recall of old info from ltm

Question 4

Who created the key research on the interference theory and when?

Answer 4

McGeoch & McDonald 1931

Question 5

What was the aim of mcgeoch and McDonald’s study and what type of experiment was it?

Answer 5

Type: lab

Aim : to investigate whether interference affects forgetting in the ltm

Question 6

McGeoch and McDonald’s procedure

Answer 6

• p’s to learn a list of 10 words until remembered with 100% accuracy
• then learned a new list:
  Group 1 - synonyms
  Group 2 - antonyms
  Group 3 - unrelated words
  Group 4 - nonsense syllables
  Group 5 - 3 digit numbers
  Group 6 - no new list

Question 7

McGeoch and McDonalds findings

Answer 7

• performance depended on 2nd list (words most similar, worst recall)
• when given different material (digits) mean number of items recalled increased
• interference strongest when memories are similar
• group 1 = words with same meanings as original list blocked access or new material became confused with the old

Question 8

Limitation - MUNDANE REALISM

Answer 8

P - interference is more likely in lab experiments than real life situations
E - learning word lists more realistic than nonsense syllables (previous research) however this has no personal meaning to p’s and doesn’t reflect everyday life
C - suggests artificial tasks makes interference more likely in lab settings but they arent reflective of everyday life

Question 9

Strength - RESEARCH SUPPORT

Answer 9

P - research support for interference
E - interference in memory consistently demonstrated in psychology and studies show interference is common as a way of forgetting info
C - lab experiments control the effects of extraneous variables (valid)
Counter argument - theories of forgetting use a nomothetic approach to establish general laws but these are often from small scale studies. Using an idiographic approach to investigate forgetting and using p’s of different ages and cultures may give us a better insight into this complex phenomenon