memory: explanations for forgetting -> interference Flashcards
What is interference?
Forgetting because one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten.
Which type of memory has interference been proposed as an explanation for forgetting in?
Interference has been proposed mainly as an explanation for forgetting in long-term memory as we can’t get access to them even if they are available
What are the two types of interference?
- proactive interference
- retroactive interference
What is proactive interference?
Forgetting that occurs when an older memory interferes with a newer one
What is retroactive interference?
Forgetting that occurs when a newer memory interferes with an older one
Which two factors make interference more likely?
- Similarity:interference is more likely to occur when the memories have some similarity due to response competition
- Time sensitivity: Interference is less likely to occur when there is a larger gap between the instances of learning
Who did research into the effects of similarity on interference?
McGeoch and McDonald (1931)
Outline the procedure of the effects of similarity on interference:
- McGeoch and McDonald studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between 2 sets of materials
- Pps had to learn a list of 10 words until they remembered them with 100% accuracy
- They then learned a new list
- The six groups learnt different types of lists
What were the findings of the research into the effects of similarity on interference?
The most similar material produced the worst recall meaning that interference is strongest when memories are similar
Evaluation: Evidence from lab studies -> strength
- There is a great deal of evidence from lab experiments that demonstrate interference in forgetting
- Most of these studies show that PI and RI are common ways information can be forgotten from the LTM
- For example, McDonald et. al’s study showed that interference is strongest when memories are similar
- Postman;s investigation into how retroactive interference negatively affects learning
- This is a strength because lab experiments control the effects of extraneous variables and thus give us confidence through internal validity that interference is a valid excuse for at least some forgetting
What is a counterpoint to lab studies being a strength?
- Artificial laboratory experiments may lack mundane realism
- Use artificial tasks so external validity may be low
- Interference may not occur to the same extent in more real-life settings and scenarios, so lowering our confidence in interference as an explanation for forgetting
Evaluation: Interference may be overcome using cues -> limitation
- Interference effects may be overcome using cues
- E.g. Tulving and Psotka (1971) gave pps five lists of 24 words, each organised into categories (e.g. metals, fruits, animals etc)
- recall averaged about 70% for the first list, but this fell as each additional task was learnt, presumably due to interference
- when given a queued recall test and told the names of the categories, recall rose again to about 80%
- shows that interference causes a temporary loss of accessibility to material that is still in LTM, a finding not predicted by interference theory
Evaluation: Real-life studies -> strength
- Real-life studies have also demonstrated that interference causes forgetting
- e.g. Baddeley asked rugby players to remember the names of teams they had played so far in that season week by week
- Players who played the most games had the poorest recall and the most interference for memory
- accurate detail did not depend on how long ago the match took place but the number of games played in the meantime
- this is a strength as it explains some forgetting in real life and so has ecological validity, increasing the validity of the theory
