Memory: Interferance

Question 1

Interference

Answer 1

• forgetting because one memory blocks another causing one/both memories to be distorted/forgotten

Question 2

What are the two types of interference

Answer 2

Proactive interference
Retroactive interference

Question 3

Define proactive interference

Answer 3

When an OLDER memory interferes with the recall of a newer memory

Question 4

Define retroactive interference

Answer 4

When a NEWER memory interferes with the recall of an older one

Question 5

Outline the ‘effects of similarity’ on recall

Answer 5

• interference is worse when memories (or learning) are similar

Question 6

Outline the study on the effects of similarity on recall conducted by McGeoch and McDonald

Answer 6

• studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between 2 sets of materials
• 6 groups of ppts had to learn a list of 10 words until they could accurately remember them all
• each group was given a new different list to learn: e.g. synonyms, 3 digit numbers etc
• when recalling the 1st list of words, the most similar material (synonyms) produced the worst recall

Question 7

What are the 3 evaluation points for ‘explanations for getting: interference’

Answer 7

• supporting evidence from lab studies
• artificial stimuli used
• Real life study support

Question 8

Outline ‘supporting evidence from lab studies’ as an evaluation point for interference

Answer 8

• thousands of studies carried out on interference in memory
• most show that both types of interference are likely to be common ways we forget information from LTM
• this is a strength - lab studies control for extraneous variables so we know this is a valid explanation

Question 9

Outline ‘artificial stimuli used’ as an evaluation point for interference

Answer 9

• the stimulus material used in most studies are lists of words
• learning these lists of words is not reflective of things we would have to remember in real life
• therefore the use of artificial tasks makes interference more likely in the lab

Question 10

Outline ‘real life study support’ as an evaluation point for interference

Answer 10

• Baddeley and hitch - is interference a better explanation for forgetting than the passage of time?
• asked rugby players to recall names of teams they had played that season, week by week
• most players had missed games, so the last team THEY had played may have been weeks ago
• the number of games players had played in the meantime was the most important factor in recall
• e.g. a players recall of a team from 3 weeks ago was better if they had played no games since