Interference Flashcards
Interference:
one memory blocks
another. This might result in
forgetting or distorting one or the
other or both.
Proactive interference:
Forgetting occurs when older memories disrupt the recall of newer memories
Retroactive interference:
Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt the recall of older memories already stored.
Irl study, Baddeley and Hitch Aim:
Asked rugby players to recall the names of teams they recently played
Baddeley and Hitch explanation:
Most players had missed some games - meant that they all played their most recent games at different points.
Baddeley and Hitch Results:
Found that recall was equally good whether game was played recently/longer ago. Shows that incorrect recall wasn’t due to delay, but was related to no. of intervening games
Baddeley and Hitch Conclusions:
Demonstrates that interference is a reason for forgetting in our everyday life.
Underwood & Postman Aim:
To find out if new learning interferes with previous learning
Underwood & Postman Procedure:
Ppts were divided into 2 groups. Group A learned 2 lists of paired words, Group B learned only first list. Both groups were asked to recall first list
Underwood and Postman Results:
Group B recall of first list was more accurate than the recall of group A.
Underwood and Postman Conclusion:
Suggests that learning items in the second list interfered with ppts ability to recall the first. This is an e.g. of retroactive interference.
Positive eval for Interference (lab study)
Evidence from lab studies is a strength as it limits effects of extraneous variables. Experiments can also be replicated - means results should be reliable.
Positive eval for interference (irl support)
Baddeley & Hitch showed influence for interference irl. (rugby matches recall). Most recent match would be recalled
Supports effect of proactive int in an irl setting.
Negative eval for interference (lab study)
Lab studies use artificial material - means they are meaningless to ppts and don’t represent irl situations. Its therefore difficult to generalise findings to everyday life.
Negative eval for interference (lab study 2)
Don’t reflect how we use memory irl. Ppts don’t have the same motivation to remember stimuli used in an experiment compared to things irl. Therefore, the recall of ppts might be less accurate and make effects of int appear stronger than they are.
