Forgetting: Interference

Question 1

When does interference occur

Answer 1

When 2 pieces of info conflict with each other - causes forgetting of one or both OR in some DISTORTION of memory

Question 2

Interference theory (further explained)

Answer 2

Once info has reached LTM it is more or less PERMANENT.
Any forgetting of LTMs = because we can’t access them even though AVAILABLE
Interference occurs

Question 3

What are 2 types of interference

Answer 3

Proactive and Retroactive

Question 4

Proactive interference

Answer 4

occurs when older memory interferes with a newer one. eg: teacher learnt so many names in past she finds it hard to remember names of new class

Question 5

Retroactive interference

Answer 5

happens when a newer memory interferes with an older memory. eg: teacher has learned so many new names this year she can’t remember names of ppl in past

Question 6

What did McGeoch and McDonald discover in 1931

Answer 6

interference = worse when the memories (learning) are SIMILAR

Question 7

What was McGeoch and McDonald’s procedure

Answer 7

• changed the amount of similarity between 2 sets of materials
• P’s had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them 100% accurately
• then they learnt a new list
• 6 groups of P’s who learnt different types of lists

Question 8

What were McGeoch and McDonald’s groups

Answer 8

Group 1 = synonyms 
Group 2 = antonyms
Group 3 = words unrelated to OG ones
Group 4 = consonant syllables 
Group 5 = 3-digit numbers 
Group 6 = no new list, P's rested

Question 9

What were the findings of McGeoch et al.’s study

Answer 9

• when P’s recalled OG list of words - performance depended on nature of 2nd list
• synonyms produced WORST recall
  SHOWS THAT: interference = strongest when memories = SIMILAR

Question 10

Who conducted research called ‘Forgetting adverts’? and what was procedure & findings

Answer 10

Burke and Skrull (1988)

• showed P’s a series of magazine adverts
• P’s had to recall details of what they saw (eg brand names)
• sometimes they found it harder to recall EARLIER adverts
• other times they had problems remembering LATER ones
• effect = greater when ads were SIMILAR
• phenomenon called COMPETITIVE INTERFERENCE

Question 11

Who wanted to find out if INTERFERENCE was a better explanation for forgetting than the passage of time in 1977

Answer 11

Baddeley and Hitch
- asked rugby players to try and remember names of teams they had played so far in that season week by week
- because some players had missed games, for some they played 2/3 weeks ago or more
- RESULTS: accurate recall didn’t depend on how long ago matches happened but the number of games they played in meantime
- players recall of matches 3 weeks ago = BETTER if they had played NO matches since then
SHOWS THAT: interference explanations can apply to at least some everyday situations