Forgetting Flashcards
what is the intro for interference theory essay?
interfere theory suggests that forgetting occurs due to two lots of information, coded at diff times becoming confused in the LTM
one memory disrupts the ability to recall another memory
this is most likely to occur when the information is similar
there are two types of IT
> proactive interference
retroactive interference
what is the ao1 for proactive interference?
proactive = pro - past information
in proactive interference forgetting occurs when past information stored disrupts the recall if new/recent information storer
for eg memory of an old phone number means you FORGET your new phone number
what is the ao1 for retro active information ?
recent information
in retroactive information forgetting occurs when recent information stored disrupts the recall of past information stored
for eg memory of a new car registration 🚗 means you FORGET your previous registration
What is RTS interference theory?
P - RTS interference theory as an explanation of forgetting was conducted by Mcgeoch and Mcdonald who gave a list of 10 words to learn (list A)
E - ppts had to learn list of words until they cud remember w 100% accuracy
ppts had to learn second list of words (list B) {this is the interference}
ppts then asked to recall list A
E - it was found that if list B was a list of similar meaning words (synonyms) to list A , recall was poor (12%)
however if the words of list B was diff to list A recall was higher (26%)
L - this supports the IT as an explanation of forgetting because it demonstrates that interference is strongest the more similar the items are , which is what the theory predicts
give a strength of IT
P - high in reliability
E - conducted in a controlled lab setting therefore can be repeated in the same conditions
eg give each ppt the same time to learn the wordlist to gain consistent results into the effects on interference on forgetting
> interference is one of the most consistently demonstrated findings in the whole of Psychology, with most studies showing that both types of interference are very likely to be common ways that we forget info in the LTM
L - this therfore strengthens the support that research provides for IT as an explanation of forgetting
Give a criticism of IT
P - however critics wud argue that there is a much greater chance of interference demonstrated in research studies than irl situations this is because it lacks mundane realism
E - artificial tasks such as learning a list of words are often used
E - therefore it is diff to GF to real life examples of forgetting as the research does not reflect what we would try to remember in everyday life such as birthdays 🎂 and ppls faces 👨 the ingredients to make a cake 🍰 ect
L - maybe these memories are less likely to be contaminated by interference as they are more meaningful to us Thus limiting the support the research provides for interference as an explanation of forgetting
What is the intro to retrieval failure due to absence of cues?
retrieval failure due to absence of cues suggests that forgetting occurs when information in LTM can’t be accessed due to lack of memory cues
what is ao1 for context - dependant forgetting ?
one type of retrieval failure is context dependent forgetting,
in which forgetting occurs due to lack of external cues to trigger recall (1)
because the environment is different at recall when the information was coded meaning forgetting is more likely (2)
eg person may forget info when sitting an exam in a diff classroom which they learned info from (3)
what is ao1 for state dependent forgetting?
another type of retrieval failure is state dependent forgetting
due to lack of internal cues that trigger recall (1)
because a persons internal physical/emotional state is diff at recall to when info was coded, meaning forgetting is more likely (2)
eg person may forget dance 💃 routine on stage because when they learned the routine they may have been calm but on stage they are anxious
Give RTS for context dependent forgetting
P - conducted by Godden & Baddeley
E - scuba 🤿 drivers were given a list of words to learn either on land or under water 💦
E - then asked to recall the list in either the same setting they learned of the opposite it was found that ppts were more likely to forget 40% accuracy) if tested in the opposite location to where they learned the words
L - this gives support to context dependent forgetting BECAUSE it demonstrates that where there is a lack of external memory cues (diff environment) forgetting is more likely
Give a criticism of research into retrieval failure
P - lacks mundane realism
E - artificial tasks such as learning a list of words are often used
E - therefore diff ti GF to everyday cases of forgetting as irl we may be learning much more complex info , such as psychological theories that may not be easily accessed w internal/external cue
L - therfore reducing ⬇️ external validity of research and questioning retrieval failure due to an absence of cues as an explanation of forgetting
Give a strength into retrieval failure
P - practical apps and therefore can be used in everyday life
E - the idea that forgetting occurs due to lack of memory cues has been used to create a technique by police 👮♀️ in the cognitive interview known as cognitive- reinstatement
E - witnesses to a crime were asked to imagine themselves at the scene of crime (context) and to imagine how they were feeling (state) when recalling the events , this has found to be effective in triggering memories as they access internal and external memory cues
L - therfore the research into retrieval failure due to an absence of cues is an important part of applied psychology because it helps provide more accurate EWT
