Memory (explanations for forgetting - interference Flashcards
Why do we forget memories?
Due to decay theory (retrieval failure on the next one) as memory is no longer in the LTM and has been displaced.
Interference theory -
An explanation of forgetting in terms of one memory and disrupting the ability to recall others, this is most likely when two memories that have similarity.
Proactive interference - (brief)
One of the two types of interference and is defined as old learning has effected new learning.
Proactive interference, evidence (1957) - procedure
Underwood found evidence for proactive interference and found it to be very significant. He conducted studies of individuals learning a series of words lists, investigated the last word list they had learned and compared the recall ability of those who had only learned one word list to others who had learned multiple word lists.
Proactive interference - evidence (1957) findings
(looked into past studies)
Underwood found that there was support for proactive interference and participants that only learned one will list in 24 hours recalled 80% recall accuracy and those who had learned multiple word lists and were asked to recall the latest one found only 20% recall accuracy suggesting the older learnt words had an effect on the newer words supporting the idea of this being proactive interference.
Retroactive interference - (brief)
One of the two types of interference and is defined as newer learning affecting older learning.
Retroactive interference (1960) procedure and findings.
Underwood then carried out another study with another researcher called Potsman) This time they conducted their own laboratory experiment, participants were divided into a control group and experimental group. They were asked learn a list of words in pairs. The control group only had to remember one list of pairs. Whereas the experimental were asked to learn a second list of word pairs. The second list for the experimental group was similar in terms of one word being the same, retroactively affected the recall of the older word list.
Research is quite artificial - limitation
The methodology of the studies is quite meaningless. Most of the studies used artificial words and examples we don’t use in every day life activities, meaning the research represents low ecological validity and shows how interference is present in artificial studies.
