The Interference theory

Question 1

What is interference

Answer 1

Forgetting as one memory blocks another, distorting one or both

Question 2

What are the two types of interference?

Answer 2

• Proactive interference
• Retroactive interference

Question 3

What is proactive interference

Answer 3

When an older memory interferes with a newer one.

Question 4

What is retroactive interference

Answer 4

When a newer memory interferes with an older one

Question 5

How can u remember the types of interference?

Answer 5

P - Proactive
O - Older affecting newer
R - Retroactive
N - Newer affecting older memories

Question 6

Describe research on the effects of similarity

Answer 6

• McGeoch and Mcdonald in 1931
• studied retrocactive interference by having participants learn a list of 10 words to 100% accuracy. Then each group learned a new list of words:
  the groups were
  1 = synonyms to the original list
  2 = Antonyms to the original list
  3 = words unrelated
  4 = consonant syllables
  5 = three digit numbers
  6 = no new list (control)

Question 7

What was the findings of McGeogh and Mcdonald

Answer 7

• They were then asked to recall the original list
• the most similar material had the worst recall (synonyms), showing retroactive interference is worse when memories are similar

Question 8

What is the explanations of their research?

Answer 8

• this can be due to PI, the older list affecting the storing of similar info or RI, the newer list overwriting the older one due to similarity

Question 9

What are two strengths of the interference theory?

Answer 9

1. There is evidence of interference effects in everyday situations, Baddely asked rugby players to recall the names of teams they played during a rugby season. The players who played the most games had the poorest recall. However, interference is quite unusual and in lab studies, ideal situations for interference are created
2. Evidence for retrograde facilitation = Coenen and Luijtelaar gave participants a list of words and asked them to recall it later so events occuring in their life would interfere with it. When they learned the list under the influence of diazepam, recall a week later was poor compared to a placebo group. But when they learned the words before the drug was taken, recall was better. Research by Wixted shows that the drug prevents new info reaching areas in the brain that process info, preventing retroactive interference. This showed that forgetting can be due to interference. Reduce forgetting (drugs), reduce interference.

Question 10

Give a limitation of the interference theory

Answer 10

• interference is temporary and can be overcome with cues. Tulving and Psotka had participants remember lists of words in categories and found recall was about 70% for the first list and declined through the addition of the next list. But with cues, this rose up to the original amount