Explanations For Forgetting:Interference(M) Flashcards
Define interference?
Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten
Define proactive interference?
Forgetting occurs when older memories, already stored, disrupt the recall of newer memories. The degree of forgetting is greater even the memories are similar
Define retroactive interference?
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
What is interference theory?
Based on the idea that two pieces of information conflict which is usually in the long term memory
The LTM is permanent so it is access that makes memory available
Interference between memories makes it harder to locate and results in forgetting
What is proactive interference?
Old memories interfere with new ones
E.g when looking at teachers and remember names they will remember old names but not new ones
What is retroactive interference?
Newer memories interfere with a. Older one (retro means backwards working) E.g. Teachers remember this years class but not classes they taught in the past
What is the effects of similarities?
Interference is worse when memories (or learning) are similar as discovered by McGeoch and McDonald (1931)
What was the procedure of McGeoch’s and McDonald’s experiment?
Studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between two sets or materials
Participants remember word lists until 100% accurate, then learned new list
Group 1= synonyms of original words (same meaning)
Group 2= antonyms which have the opposite meaning
Group 3= words related to the original
Group 4= nonsense syllables
Group 5= 3 digit numbers
Group 6= no new word list- participants just tested on originals
What were the results from McGeoch’s and McDonald’s experiment?
When recalling orignal list of words, performance depended on nature of second list
Most similar materials (synonyms) produced worst recall
Showing interference is strongest when memories are similar
What was Burke and Skrull’s experiment (1988)?
Magazine ads were used to recall details
Some found it more difficult to recall earlier ads and some found it more difficult to recall later ones
Effects greater when ads are were similar- cognitive interference
What is the effect of artificial materials? (Evaluation)
When thinking about lists of words, they are more realistic that consonant syllables but very different from real life situations such as remembering faces and birthday ect
Meaning interference is more likely in the lab
What real life study was carried out into interference? (Evaluation)
Baddeley and Hitch(1977) - rugby players experiment
What was Baddeley’s and Hitches experiment?
Teams played a season in order - however players were not at every match
Importance was not how long ago matches were played but whether they took part in the match
What were the results of the Baddeley and Hitch experiment?
Recall was better for last team played if no matches were played after that point
Demonstrating interference can apply in some real life situations
What is a limitation of interference?
Time between learning- time between learning and recall is short in experiments which may not be the case in real life
