Interference Theory

Question 1

what’s the main idea?

Answer 1

when 2 sets of info in memory are similar, confusion occurs when we try to recall one, causing us to forget 1 of them (the more similar, the more likely)

Question 2

retroactive interference

Answer 2

new info affects recall of old info

Question 3

retroactive research example

Answer 3

MULLER & PILZECKER (1900)
- list of nonsense syllables to learn for 6 mins - should move into LTM
- if a different task was given before recall, they performed less well

Question 4

proactive interference

Answer 4

when old info affects recall of new info

Question 5

proactive research example

Answer 5

UNDERWOOD (1957)
- learning word lists
- if 1 list learnt = 70% recall
- if 10 learnt = 20% recall
- memory for earlier lists had transferred into LTM & interfered with new mems

Question 6

MCGEOCH & MCDONALD

Answer 6

McGEOCH & McDONALD (1931)
- 12 participants learnt 10 words until 100% recall then shown a new list
- increasing recall in order of, synonyms of old, antonyms, unrelated, nonsense syllables, 3 digit numbers & no extra list

Question 7

BADDELEY & HITCH

Answer 7

BADDELEY & HITCH (1977)
- real life study of rugby players remembering the teams they’d played
- more teams, poorer recall (RETROACTIVE)

Question 8

EVALUATION

Answer 8

– low ecological validity = mostly lab studies
+ applications in advertising - DANAHER 2008 = lots of ads in a day had less interference than same amount over a week
– doesn’t explain all forgetting types
– permanent/temporary effect? just inaccessible? (BAHRICK)