Memory: Explanations for forgetting - Interference Flashcards
Define interference
Explanation for forgetting where one memory disrupts the ability to recall another
What are the two types of interference?
Proactive interference (PI)
Retroactive interference (RI)
What is Proactive interference (PI)?
When past learning interferes with current attempts to learn something
What is Retroactive interference (RI)?
When current attempts to learn something interferes with past learning
What’s interference theory?
When two pieces of information conflict with each other resulting in forgetting of one or both, which mainly explains forgetting on LTM.
Who researched Retroactive interference?
Müller et al.
What was the procedure of Müller et al.’s research?
They gave ppts a list of nonsense syllables to learn for 6 minutes and then after a retention interval asked ppts to recall the lists.
What were the findings of Müller et al.’s study?
Ppts struggled to remember the nonsense syllables when given an interference task because the intervening task interfered with what had been previously learned.
Who investigated Proactive interference?
Underwood
What was the procedure of Underwood’s study?
Analysed the findings from a number of studies
What were the findings of Underwood’s study?
The more lists a ppt has to learn the worse their overall recall.
When ppts had to learn 10 or more word lists after 24 hours, they could only remember 20% of them.
When ppts were asked to recall 1 word list they could remember 70% of them.
What are the 4 AO3 points for interference?
-Issues with validity
-Interference theory is flawed
+Supporting evidence
+RLA
(-AO3) What are the issues with validity in explanations for forgetting: Interference?
The studies used artificial tasks in artificial settings. The use of artificial words/ nonsense syllables and unrealistic tasks don’t relate to everyday memory like remembering your phone number. Participants may also loose interest in the tasks causing the effects to be exaggerated thus showcasing a lack of mundane realism and a lack of ecological validity.
(-AO3) How is interference theory flawed?
Memories may still be available but not accessible. A further study showed recall was 20% better when cues where fives which shows memories are still there, just unable to recall (retrieval failure). Memories aren’t ‘rewritten’ which contradicts the theory.
(+AO3) What is the supporting evidence interference?
Baddeley and Hitch conducted less artificial research in a rugby game study.
Players were asked to recall names of teams they had played against during the season. Some players had played all the games while others have missed some due to injury.
The time interval from the start to end of the season was the same for all players but the number of intervening games was different for each player.
Players that played less games successfully remembers proportionally more names than players who played all games showing that interference affects forgetting.
