Explanations for forgetting: Interference Flashcards
When does interference take place?
Interference occurs when two pieces of information conflict with each other, resulting in forgetting one or both, or in some distortion of memory.
Does interference act as an explanation for forgetting in LTM or in STM?
Interference has been proposed mainly as an explanation for forgetting in LTM.
How does interference explain forgetting in our LTM?
Once information has reached LTM it is more-or-less permanent. Therefore, any forgetting of LTM is most likely because we can’t get access to then even though they are available. Interference between memories makes it harder for us to locate them, and this is experienced as ‘forgetting’.
How many types of interference have been recognised by psychologists?
Psychologists recognise that there are two types of interference.
What are the two types of interference identified by psychologists?
Proactive interference and retroactive interference.
When does proactive interference occur?
PI occurs when an older memory interferes with a newer one. For example, your teacher has learned so many names in the past that she has difficulty remembering the names of her current class.
When does retroactive interference occur?
RI happens when a newer memory interferes with an older one. For example, your teacher has learned so many new names this year that she has difficulty remembering the names of the students last year.
Who investigated the effects of similarity over interference?
John McGeoch and William McDonald (1931)
Which type of interference was investigated by McGeoch and McDonald?
McGeoch and McDonald studied retroactive interference.
How did McGeoch and McDonald investigate the effects of similarity over retroactive interference?
They studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials. Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them with 100% accuracy. They then learned a new list. There were six groups of participants who had to learn different types of lists.
Which list of words were group 1 required to learn?
Synonyms: Words with the same meanings as the originals
Which list of words were group 2 required to learn?
Antonyms: Words with the opposite meanings to the originals
Which list of words were group 3 required to learn?
Words unrelated to the original ones
Which list of words were group 4 required to learn?
Nonsense syllables
Which list of words were group 5 required to learn?
Three-Digit numbers
