memory - explanations for forgetting Flashcards
what does the interference theory suggest
we forget because out long term memories become confused by other information
what is proactive interference
when old information disrupts new information
what is retroactive interference
when new information disrupts old information
when is interference most likely to occur
when the 2 pieces of information are similar this is due to response competition
when is interference least likely to occur
when there is a large gap between the instances of learning
what was schmidts research on retroactive interference
tested 11-79 year olds on the street names in the area of their old school
what were schmidts findings in his research on retroactive interference
the more times an individual had moved house the fewer street names recalled
what was greenburg and underwoods research into proactive interference
asked participants to learn 10 paired word lists and then were asked to recall in 48 hours
what do schmidts findings suggest about retroactive interference
retroactive interference exists as the process of remembering new street names interferes with the previous street names making them harder to recall
what were greenburg and underwoods findings in their research on proactive interference
the amount of correctly recalled word pairs decreased the more word pairs had been learnt previously
what do greenburg and underwoods findings suggest about proactive interference
provides evidence for proactive interference as the previously learnt word combinations caused confusion in the encoding of the later word lists, interfering with the accurate recall of later learnt word lists
what is cue dependent forgetting
when forgetting in the ltm happens due to the absence of appropriate cues and promts
what are context dependent cues
aspects of the external environment which act as cues to memory
what was godden and baddleys research into context dependent cues
asked divers to learn new material either on dry land or whilst underwater and then were tested either on dry land or whilst underwater
what were godden and baddleys findings on their research into context dependent cues
recall was worse if in a different environment to when they learnt it
what do godden and baddleys findings suggest about context dependent cues
being in the same environment for both learning and recall improves recall by providing context cues
what are state dependent cues
aspects of our internal memory which act as cues to memory
what was overtons research on state dependent cues
asked participants to learn material either drunk or sober and then tested them on the material either drunk or sober
what did overton find on his research on state dependent cues
recall was worse if in a different internal state
what do overtons findings suggest about state dependent cues
being in the same state for both learning and recall improves recall by providing state dependent cues
what are category dependent cues
cues that relate to the organisation of memory which may aid recall
what was tulving and pealestones research into category dependent cues
asked participants to learn 48 words who either used free recall or made 12 4 word categories
what were tulving and pealestones findings on their research into category dependent cues
participants recalled significantly more in the category condition
what do tulving and pealestones fidnings suggest about category dependent cues
categories act as cues which aids recall
what are the strengths of explanations for forgetting
research has real practical applications which has developed things such as the cognitive interview and allows students to make effective revision strategies
what are the weaknesses of explanations of forgetting
- the interference and cue theory may only explain a temporary loss of information so it is not a true explanation for forgetting
- only explains forgetting when 2 pieces of info are similar and learnt closer together in time meaning the theory struggles to explain day to day examples of forgetting such as someones birthday
- most evidence comes from artificial lab experiments making the external validity low
