explanations of forgetting

Question 1

intro for interference theory

Answer 1

• forgetting occurs due to two lots of info, coded at diff times becoming confused in the LTM ,one disrupts the ability to recall another memory .
• most likey to occur when info is similar .
• two types of interference. proactive and retroactive

Question 2

what is proactive interference

Answer 2

forgetting occurs to past info stored disrupts recall of new/recent info stored
eg - the memory of an old phone number means u forget ur new phone number

Question 3

what is retroactive intereference

Answer 3

forgetting occurs when recent info disrupts recall of past info stored
eg- memory of new car registration means u forget ur previous registration

Question 4

interference theory AO3 -McGeoch + McDonald

Answer 4

RTS McGeoch + Mcdonald list 10 words to learn

• ppt learn list of 10 words until w 100 percent accuracy
• learn 2nd list (list B) (interference)ppt recall list A
• found if list B had similar meaning to list A recall poor(12%), if list B was diff to list A recall was higher (26%)
• supports bc demonstrates interference is strongest when items r similar, which is what theory suggests

Question 5

AO3- mundane realism for interference theory

Answer 5

artificial task such as learning a list of words are often used

• diff to gen finding to real life examples of forgetting ,
• research doesn’t reflect what we would try to remember in everyday life EG, bdays, ppl faces, maybe these memories are less likely to be contaminated by interference as more meaningful
• thus limiting support that research provides for us one interference theory

Question 6

intro for retrieval failure

Answer 6

Intro: Retrieval failure due to absence of cues suggests that forgetting occurs when information is still in the LTM, but can’t be accessed due to a lack of memory cues.

Question 7

define context dependant forgetting

Answer 7

• forgetting occurs due to a lack of external cues to trigger recall because the environment is different at recall to when the information was coded.
  *For example, a person may forget information when sitting an exam in a different classroom which they learned the information.

Question 8

what’s state dependant forgetting

Answer 8

• forgetting occurs due to lack of internal cues to trigger recall
• person’s internal physical and/or emotional state is different at recall to when the information was coded.
• EG, person may forget a dance routine on stage because when they learned the routine they may have been calm, but on stage they are anxious.

Question 9

retrieval failure due to absence of cues AO3

Answer 9

RTS Godden+Baddeley

• scuba divers given list of words to learn underwater or on land
• asked to recall list in same setting learned
• found 40% less accurate if tested in opposite location learned
• supports context dependent forgetting bc demonstrates that when there is a lack of external memory cues forgetting is most likely

Lacks mundane realism,

• bc artificial tasks such as learning list of words are often used
• therefore difficult to generalise the findings to everyday cases of forgetting a IRL we may learn more complex info (Psych theories) not easily accsessed by ext or int cue
• Therefore reducing int val of research
• prac apps can be applied to everyday life