Memory: Explanation For Forgetting - Interference

Question 1

What Is Proactive Interference?

Answer 1

• Forgetting occurs when older memories already stored disrupt the recall of newer memories.
• Forgetting is greater when the memories are similar.
• E.g a teacher cannot remember new names because she has previously learnt too many.

Question 2

What Is Retroactive Interference?

Answer 2

Forgetting occurs when newer memories disrupt recall of older memories already stored.

• Forgetting is greater when they are similar.
• E.g a teacher forgets the name of her previous students because she has remembered the names of her new class.

Question 3

Describe McGeoch And McDonald Experiment - Testing Interference When Similar.

Answer 3

Aim: Wanted to see whether interference were similar.

Procedure: Participants learnt a word list until they remembered it accurately. Some participants were told to learn a second list which either consisted of synonyms, antonyms, none sense syllables etc.

Findings: When participants recalled original list of words, how well they did depended on what they were told to do for the second list. The most similar material reproduced the worst recall.

Conclusion: When memories are similar, interference is greater which makes it harder to recall.

Question 4

Strength: Lab Experiments Can Help Increase Validity Of Results.

Answer 4

• There has been many lab experiments to test reasons for forgetting and interference.
• Most of the studies show that both retro and pro are likely reasons for why we forget.
• Due to be tested in a lab there is a control of extraneous variables - increase validity.

Question 5

Weakness: Interference Less Likely Reason For Forgetting In Everyday Life.

Answer 5

• Higher probability of interference happening in a lab compared to real life.
• The stimulus material for most research were lists of words, although more realistic than letters it is still very artificial as we usually remember birthdays or faces etc.
• Reduces external validity due to being tested with artificial tasks.

Question 6

Strength: Different Types Of Research Support: Baddeley And Hitch (1997).

Answer 6

• Research conducted outside of lab.
• Baddeley and Hitch asked players to remember players they have played so far in the season week by week. This meant some had to remember from 2-3 weeks ago.
• The results showed that the accuracy of recall did not depend on how long ago their last match took place instead how many they played.
• Therefore showed that interference can be applied to some everyday situations.