Forgetting - Interference

Question 1

what are the types of interference

Answer 1

Proactive interference and retroactive interference

Question 2

define interference

Answer 2

two peices of information conflict with one another

Question 3

define proactive interference

Answer 3

Old memories interfering with new memories
eg. you remove your watch to prevent a tan line and for the next 2 days you keep looking to your wrist for the time.

Question 4

define retroactive interference

Answer 4

New memories interfering with old memories
eg. the memory of you new car registration is interfering with your old one

Question 5

describe a piece of research into interference

Answer 5

McGeoch & McDonald (1931)
* Gave ppts a list of 10 words to remember.
* They then learnt a new list that was either made up of: synonyms of the originals, nonsense syllables or 3 digit numbers.
* Ppts were then asked to recall the original 10 words.

Question 6

Explain the findings of McGeoch and McDonald 1931

Answer 6

McGeoch and McDonald 1931 found that the % of words recalled was lowest in the group that were given the synonyms and highest in those that were given the digits.
This shows that interference is strongest when the memories are similar.

Question 7

Evaluate McGeoch and McDonald 1931

weakness

Answer 7

A methodological weakness of McGeoch and McDonald 1931 is that it was a lab experiment using meaningless word lists this is a weakness because it lacks ecological validity this means that the findings cannot be generalised.

However due to the lab conditions can be easily replicated

Question 8

evaluate interference theory

strength

Answer 8

A strength of interference theory is the practical applications of interference effects it can help with revision strategies suggest that it may not be helpful to revise similar subjects close to each other. This is a strength because it shows that there plausibility to the explanation as it can be applied this means that we can apply and use the theory.

Question 9

Evaluate interference theory

weakness

Answer 9

A weakness of interference theory is that it is a limited explanation- Interference really only explains forgetting when the two sets of information are similar. This is a weakness because the explanation is limited in explaining forgetting in the majority of real-life settings. This means that thw findings cannot be generalised to all situations.