Interference Theory Flashcards
What is interference? When is it most likely to occur?
When one memory disrupts your ability to recall another memory. More likely to happen when memories are similar
What are the two types of interference?
Retroactive and proactive
Define proactive interference
Forgetting due to old memories disrupting our ability to recall new memories
Define retroactive interference
Forgetting due to new memories disrupting our ability to recall old memories
Name a real life study of interference
Baddeley and Hitch (1977)
Asked rugby players to remember names of teams they’d played in that season week by week. Not all players played in every match. Those players who had played the most matches forgot the most opponent teams as the matches had interfered with their memory. Memory did not rely on how long ago the matches were, but the number of games played in-between. This supports interference theory as it would predict those who played the most games would recall the least.
Research support for interference.
McGeoch and McDonald (1931)
Three groups given 10 word to learn (List A), then had a 10 minute interval where they had to memorise a new list
Group 1 – list of synonyms to words in list A
Group 2 - list of antonyms to words in list A
Group 3 – unrelated words
Group 4 - List of nonsense syllables
Group 5 – 3 Digit numbers
Group 6 - No new list
Participants then had to recall words in list A
Group 1 had worst recall (12%) compared to most effective recall in group 5 (37%). Control group (45%)
Shows that more similar memories are more likely to interfere with our recall.
Strength of interference theory
Can help advertisers to maximise the effectiveness of their campaign.
Danaher et al. (2008) found that recall and recognition of an advertised message was impaired when participants were exposed to two competing adverts in a week. In order to enhance memory, companies should run multiple exposures on one day rather than spread out across a week - reduced interference from competitors advertisements.
2 limitations of interference theory
Interference and cues:
Interference is temporary and can be overcome by using cues. Tulving and Psotka (1971) gave participants list of words organised into categories, one list at a time. Recall avergaed about 70% for the first list but became progressively worse as participants were given additional lists (proactive interference). However, at the end of the procedure participants were given a cued recall test. Recall rose to 70% again. Interference causes a temporary loss but material is still in the LTM and can be accessed by cues - not predicted by interference theory.
Doesn’t take into account individual differences:
Some people less affected by proactive interference. Kane and Engle (2000) found those with a greater working memory span are less likely to experience proactive interference. They gave participants 3 word lists to learn and those with low working memory spans showed greater proactive interference when recalling second and third lists.
Limitation of research on interference theory
Artificial research - Most research of interference, such as that by McGeoch and McDonald was carried out in labs using artificial materials (word lists are not meaningful). May not relate to everyday use of memory as they are not reflecting real life situation. Baddeley and Hitch used a more realistic setting but research gender biased as they only used male participants and population validity issue as only used rugby players.
