MEMORY - explanations for forgetting: interference

Question 1

what are the 2 types of memory interference?

Answer 1

• proactive interference

- retroactive interference

Question 2

what is meant by proactive interference?

Answer 2

• when older memories disrupt the recall of newer memories

Question 3

what is meant by retroactive interference?

Answer 3

• when new memories disrupt the recall of older memories

Question 4

when is interference more likely to occur?

Answer 4

• when the memories are similar to each other

Question 5

EVALUATION

what did MCGEOGH and MCDONALD do? and how does this relate to interference forgetting?

Answer 5

• asked participants to memorise a list of words to perfect recall rates
• then asked to memorise another list to perfect recall rates
• then asked to recall the first list and was most difficult when lists were synonyms
  so. ..
• supports the idea that interference is most common when memories are similar

Question 6

EVALUATION

time between learning

Answer 6

• in studies, time between learning may be in minutes
  (the whole process being less than an hour)
• this is so that the possibility of interference is maximised
• this is very different to usual interference
  so…
• has little real-life application when there may be years between memories

Question 7

EVALUATION

artificial materials

Answer 7

• interference rates are higher when random digits or words are used to test recall
• this is a limitation as it means interference is much more likely in a lab
  so. ..
• reduces the validity of the experiment