Interference Flashcards
Explanations for forgetting: interference
1
Q
What is RI and who identified it?
A
Retroactive interference
- current attempts to learn something interfere with past learning
Muller et al 1900
2
Q
Procedures?
A
- participants given list of nonsense syllables, learnt for 6 mins
- after retention interval, participants asked to recall the lists
- performance less good if participants given an intervening task between initial learning and recall
- intervening task produced RI
3
Q
What is PI and who identified it?
A
Proactive interference
- past learning interferes with current attempts to learn something
Underwood 1957
4
Q
Procedures?
A
- analysed findings from studies
- if participants memorised 10+ lists, after 24hrs they remembered about 20% of what they learned
- if they only learned one list, recall = over 70%
5
Q
Evaluation? ❌
A
- methodology of studies is criticised
- artificial lists of words and/or nonsense syllables are often used
- participants may lack motivation to remember links in studies
- allows interference effects to appear stronger than they really are
- research is low in ecological validity
6
Q
Evaluation? ❌
A
- whether interference effects actually cause a memory to disappear or whether they are temporary
- Ceraso 1967: if memory was tested again after 24hrs, recognition (accessibility) showed considerable spontaneous recovery whereas recall (availability)
- supports view that interference affects availability rather than accessibility
7
Q
Evaluation? ❌
A
- some people less affected by PI
- Kane and Engle (2000): individuals with a greater working memory span = less susceptible to PI
- gave participants three word lists to learn
- participants with low working memory spans showed greater PI when recalling 2nd and 3rd lists
- highlights role individual differences play in how people are affected by interference
