Interference Theory

Question 1

Strength: RTS Mcgeoch and McDonald

Answer 1

Ppts had list of 10 words to learn, learn list A with 100% accuracy, then learn list B, if list B was a list of synonyms to list A recall was poor 12%, if words were different recall was higher 26%, supports IFT as demonstrates it is strongest the more similar items are

Question 2

Strength: high in reliability

Answer 2

Much of the research is high in reliability, conducted in controlled lab setting, can be repeated in the same conditions, give each ppt same amount of time to learn words, gain consistent results into effects of interference theory, strengthens support research provides

Question 3

Weakness: lacks mundane realism

Answer 3

Much greater chance of IT being demonstrated in research studies than real life situations, artificial tasks such as learning list of words often used, difficult to generalise findings to real life examples, research doesn’t reflect what we would try to remember in real life (birthdays how to bake a cake etc), those are less likely to be contaminated as they have more meaning, limits support of research