Explanations for forgetting-inference

Question 1

What is Interference Theory?

Answer 1

Forgetting in LTM is because you can’t get access to information.
As the info is stored at different times so makes it harder to locate
(one memory blocks another)

Question 2

What is Proactive Interference?

Answer 2

Older Memories interferes with the new

Question 3

What is Retroactive Interference?

Answer 3

New Memories interferes with the old

Question 4

When is Interference worse?

Answer 4

When the memories or learning is similar

Question 5

What was Schmidt et al’s Study?

Answer 5

Real-life study of childhood street names- PPs were given a map with the street names replaced by numbers.
Asked to remember as many as possible.
(Other relevant info was collected by questionnaire) - how man times they moved

Positive association between number of times moved and number of street names forgotten.

Question 6

What were the conclusions of Schmidt’s Study?

Answer 6

Learning new patterns of street names when moving makes recalling older patterns more difficult.

Retroactive interference effects recall in real-life situations

Question 7

What was the Evaluation of this Study?

Answer 7

Extraneous Variables - confounded results
Methodology used shows that it’s possible to research RI in real-life situations.

Question 8

What was Baddeley and Hitch’s Study?

Answer 8

Asked Rugby Players to try and remember the names of the teams they had played so far in that season week by week

Question 9

What did Baddeley and Hitch’s results?

Answer 9

Very clearly showed that accurate recall didn’t depend on how long ago the match took place. Numbers of games they had played in the meantime.

A player’s recall of a team from three weeks ago was better if they had played no matches since then.

Question 10

Positive Evaluation Points of Interference Theory?

Answer 10

Evidence from lab studies consistently demonstrates interference
Real-life studies supports it
The effects of interference may be overcome using cues

Question 11

Negative Evaluation Points of Interference Theory?

Answer 11

Only really explains forgetting when two sets of info are similar.
Most are lab experiemnts- lacks EV
Don’t clearly identify the cognitive processes