memory - explanations for forgetting

Question 1

what does the interference theory suggest

Answer 1

we forget because out long term memories become confused by other information

Question 2

what is proactive interference

Answer 2

when old information disrupts new information

Question 3

what is retroactive interference

Answer 3

when new information disrupts old information

Question 4

when is interference most likely to occur

Answer 4

when the 2 pieces of information are similar this is due to response competition

Question 5

when is interference least likely to occur

Answer 5

when there is a large gap between the instances of learning

Question 6

what was schmidts research on retroactive interference

Answer 6

tested 11-79 year olds on the street names in the area of their old school

Question 7

what were schmidts findings in his research on retroactive interference

Answer 7

the more times an individual had moved house the fewer street names recalled

Question 8

what was greenburg and underwoods research into proactive interference

Answer 8

asked participants to learn 10 paired word lists and then were asked to recall in 48 hours

Question 8

what do schmidts findings suggest about retroactive interference

Answer 8

retroactive interference exists as the process of remembering new street names interferes with the previous street names making them harder to recall

Question 9

what were greenburg and underwoods findings in their research on proactive interference

Answer 9

the amount of correctly recalled word pairs decreased the more word pairs had been learnt previously

Question 10

what do greenburg and underwoods findings suggest about proactive interference

Answer 10

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

Question 11

what is cue dependent forgetting

Answer 11

when forgetting in the ltm happens due to the absence of appropriate cues and promts

Question 12

what are context dependent cues

Answer 12

aspects of the external environment which act as cues to memory

Question 13

what was godden and baddleys research into context dependent cues

Answer 13

asked divers to learn new material either on dry land or whilst underwater and then were tested either on dry land or whilst underwater

Question 14

what were godden and baddleys findings on their research into context dependent cues

Answer 14

recall was worse if in a different environment to when they learnt it

Question 15

what do godden and baddleys findings suggest about context dependent cues

Answer 15

being in the same environment for both learning and recall improves recall by providing context cues

Question 16

what are state dependent cues

Answer 16

aspects of our internal memory which act as cues to memory

Question 17

what was overtons research on state dependent cues

Answer 17

asked participants to learn material either drunk or sober and then tested them on the material either drunk or sober

Question 18

what did overton find on his research on state dependent cues

Answer 18

recall was worse if in a different internal state

Question 19

what do overtons findings suggest about state dependent cues

Answer 19

being in the same state for both learning and recall improves recall by providing state dependent cues

Question 20

what are category dependent cues

Answer 20

cues that relate to the organisation of memory which may aid recall

Question 21

what was tulving and pealestones research into category dependent cues

Answer 21

asked participants to learn 48 words who either used free recall or made 12 4 word categories

Question 22

what were tulving and pealestones findings on their research into category dependent cues

Answer 22

participants recalled significantly more in the category condition

Question 23

what do tulving and pealestones fidnings suggest about category dependent cues

Answer 23

categories act as cues which aids recall

Question 24

what are the strengths of explanations for forgetting

Answer 24

research has real practical applications which has developed things such as the cognitive interview and allows students to make effective revision strategies

Question 25

what are the weaknesses of explanations of forgetting

Answer 25

• 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