Explanations for forgetting: interference

Question 1

What is interference?

Answer 1

• when we forget because one memory blocks another causing one or both memories to be distorted or forgotten

Question 2

Interference is an explanation for forgetting in …

Answer 2

the LTM

Question 3

Why does forgetting in the LTM occur?

Answer 3

• Can’t get access to information, even though they are available

Question 4

What are the two types of interference?

Answer 4

proactive & retroactive

Question 5

What is proactive interference?

Answer 5

• old memories disrupts recall of new memories
  e.g. learning a new language and constantly slipping back into native language
  e.g. calling your new bf your old bf name

Question 6

What is retroactive interference?

Answer 6

• new memories disrupts recall of old memories
  e.g. forgot old phone number as new number has replaced
  e.g. memory of new car registration number prevents recall of previous car registration number

Question 7

Who did research on the effects of similarity of information and their hypothesis?

Answer 7

McGeoch & McDonald >
interference is worse when memories (learning) are similar

Question 8

What was McGeoch & McDonald’s procedure?

Answer 8

• studied RI by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials
• P’s had to learn list of words until they could recall with 100% accuracy
• They then learnt a new word list

Question 9

What were McGeoch & McDonalds findings and conclusions?

Answer 9

• When P’s asked to recall original list of words the most similar material (synonyms) produced the worse recall compared to groups with antonyms, numbers, consonant syllables, no list etc
• This shows interference is stronger when the memories are similar

Question 10

What is the explanation of the effects of similarity?

Answer 10

• either proactive interference or retroactive interference

Question 11

What is a strength of research into interference?

Answer 11

• evidence of interference in everyday situations
• Baddeley & Hitch asked rugby players to recall names of teams they had played during the season
• the number of intervening games varied because some players missed matches due to injury
• players who played the most games (most interference for memory) had the poorest recall
• increased validity as it shows interference can operate in the real- world

Question 12

What is a limitation of interference as an explanation for forgetting?

Answer 12

• forgetting is temporary & can be overcome by cues
• Tulving & Potska gave P’s lists of words organised into categories to learn, one list at a time (didn’t know categories)
• recall=70% for first list but became worse as P learnt new list (PI)
• at end of procedure p’s were given a cued recall test (told name of categories)
• recall rose back to 70%
• interference causes temporary loss of access to material - not predicted by theory

Question 13

What is another strength of research into interference?

Answer 13

research using drugs
- researchers found that when p’s learned a list of words under the influence of diazepam, recall one week later was poorer compared to placebo
- However, when p’s took diazepam after learning the list, recall was better.
- suggests that interference may occur due to new information disrupting previously learned material, but preventing new learning (using the drug) can protect existing memories from interference.

Question 14

What is another limitation of research on interference?

Answer 14

• interference research is often criticised for being artificial and lacking ecological validity
• Most of the research examining interference is carried out in a laboratory
• do not represent everyday examples of interference (or forgetting) and are limited in their application to everyday human memory