What is the explanation for forgetting?
Failure to retrieve memories from the long term store.
This may be due to: 1) Interference or 2) Retrieval failure
What is the Interference Theory:
Interference occurs when one set of information COMPETES with another, causing it to be ‘overwritten’ or destroyed.
What are the two types of interference?
Proactive Interference and Retroactive Interference
What is proactive interference? + example
Proactive Interference is when old information impairs the learning and retention of new information.
For example, when you get a new mobile phone, you may find it difficult to text because you are still applying your old phone’s texting system, as the new information is being interfered with, causing it to be overwritten/destroyed.
What is retroactive interference? + example
Retroactive Interference is when new information impairs the retention of the old information, causing the old information to be overwritten/destroyed.
For example, if you move house and change telephone number, you will soon find that the new number replaces the old.
What is the effect of similarity?
Interference is more likely when two lots of information are similar (either semantically or acoustically)
What was the METHOD of the Postman (1960) Evidence of retroactive interference?
Two groups had to learn a list of paired words. (e.g cat-tree). The experimental group had to learn another lst of words where the second paired word is different, such as cat-glass. The control group were not given the second list.
What were the FINDINGS of Postman (1960) Evidence of retroactive interference?
The recall of the first list was higher in the control group than the experimental group.
What was the CONCLUSION of Postman (1960) Evidence of retroactive interference?
This experiment was an example of retroactive interference, as new information impairs the retention of old information.
More interference leads to more forgetting.
More interference leads to?
More forgetting.
Who were the psychologists to find supporting evidence for the role of similarity in interference?
McGeoch and McDonald
What were the differences between the two groups of participants in McGeoch and McDonald’s experiment?
For one group of participants, the second list consisted of synonyms of the first list.
Whereas for another group, the second list consisted of nonsense syllables (e.g., GVX, HRE).
What did McGeoch and McDonald find in their experiment of similarity in interference?
They found that recall of the first list was higher in the group where the second list consisted of nonsense syllables - 26% accuracy.
Whereas the group where the second list consisted of synonyms to the first list had a 12% accuracy.
What did Danaher et al find?
That both recall and recognition of an advertiser’s message were impaired when participants were exposed to two adverts from competing brands spontaneously within a week.
Strength of the Interference theory: supporting evidence for the role of similarity
- McGeogh and McDonald - two different groups of ppts learned 2 lists of words. In one condition, the second list consisted of synonyms of the first list. In another condition, the second list consisted of nonsense syllables (e.g GVX, HRE).
- Recall of the first list was higher when the second list consisted of nonsense syllables - 26% compared to 12%.
- SB: Interference theory is correct in arguing that when there is more similarity between words - higher chance of interference
- Increases validity of IT
Strength of the Interference Theory: practical applications, such as advertising.
- Danaher et al found that both recall and recognition of an advertiser’s message were impaired when participants are exposed to adverts from two competing brands sporadically throughout the week.
- Understanding IT - Danaher proposed that to improve memory of the message, run multiple exposures to an ad in one day to reduce interference.
- SB: shows how the understanding of interference can prevent forgetting in real life environments and thus is not purely theoretical, but actually has practical use.
- As a result, the interference theory increases in utility.
Weakness of the IT: the research it is based on is artificial.
- Much of the research evidence for interference theory has come from artificial laboratory experiments. Interference studies use special conditions, e.g word pair stimuli are generated for the purpose of the experiment.
- WB: These conditions are very rare in real life, therefore the research can’t apply to everyday life.
- Limits the ecological validity of support research
Weakness of IT: not a complete explanation of forgetting.
- Ceraso found when memory was tested again after 24 hours, recognition showed considerable spontaneous recovery. (i.e participants were now able to recognise words that they seemed to have forgotten).
- Suggests interference occurs because memories are temporarily not accessible rather than lost.
- WB: interference can only explain temporary forgetting, not permanent forgetting, thus presenting the IT as INCOMPLETE, meaning the theory decreases in validity.
