Explanations for forgetting: Interference

Question 1

Explanations for forgetting: Interference

Question 2

What is interference in the context of memory?

Answer 2

Interference refers to the phenomenon where some memories interfere with the retrieval of other memories.

Question 3

What are the two types of interference?

Answer 3

The two types of interference are proactive interference and retroactive interference.

Question 4

Define proactive interference.

Answer 4

Proactive interference occurs when older memories disrupt the recall of newer memories.

Question 5

Define retroactive interference.

Answer 5

Retroactive interference occurs when new memories disrupt the recall of older memories.

Question 6

True or False: Interference is a major reason for forgetting.

Answer 6

True.

Question 7

What is the role of similarity in interference?

Answer 7

Higher similarity between memories can lead to greater interference and more forgetting.

Question 8

What did McGeoch and McDonald (1931) study about interference?

Answer 8

They studied how different types of intervening material affect recall, demonstrating that interference can reduce memory performance.

Question 9

What is the ‘fan effect’ in memory interference?

Answer 9

The fan effect refers to the phenomenon where the more associations a concept has, the longer it takes to retrieve that information due to interference.

Question 10

Fill in the blank: In proactive interference, older memories interfere with ______ memories.

Answer 10

newer

Question 11

Fill in the blank: In retroactive interference, newer memories interfere with ______ memories.

Answer 11

older

Question 12

What is an example of proactive interference?

Answer 12

An example is when you learn a new phone number but keep recalling your old number instead.

Question 13

What is an example of retroactive interference?

Answer 13

An example is when you learn a new language and struggle to remember words from a previously learned language.

Question 14

Which type of interference is likely to occur in a classroom setting with similar subjects?

Answer 14

Proactive interference.

Question 15

True or False: Interference can happen only with similar types of information.

Answer 15

False.

Question 16

What is the interference theory?

Answer 16

The interference theory posits that forgetting occurs because memories interfere with one another.

Question 17

What did the study by Baddeley and Hitch (1977) demonstrate?

Answer 17

Their study demonstrated that interference plays a significant role in forgetting in real-life situations, such as rugby players recalling match details.

Question 18

How can interference be reduced in learning?

Answer 18

Interference can be reduced by spacing out learning sessions and ensuring that information is distinct.

Question 19

What is the effect of time on interference?

Answer 19

As time passes, the likelihood of interference may decrease, but memories can still be affected by new information.

Question 20

Fill in the blank: Interference is more likely to occur when there is ______ between the new and old information.

Answer 20

similarity

Question 21

What is the difference between interference and decay in memory?

Answer 21

Interference involves the disruption of memory retrieval by other memories, while decay refers to the fading of memory over time without use.

Question 22

What is the main focus of interference theory?

Answer 22

The main focus is on how competing memories can hinder the retrieval of desired information.

Question 23

True or False: Interference only affects short-term memory.

Answer 23

False.

Question 24

What is the role of cue-dependent forgetting in relation to interference?

Answer 24

Cue-dependent forgetting can interact with interference, as the absence of retrieval cues can exacerbate forgetting caused by interference.

Question 25

What is an experimental method used to study interference?

Answer 25

One method is the paired-associate learning task, where participants learn pairs of words and test the effects of interference.

Question 26

How does the length of time between learning and recall affect interference?

Answer 26

Longer intervals can increase the potential for interference, as more new information may be learned in the meantime.

Question 27

Fill in the blank: The concept of ______ suggests that memories can compete with one another, leading to forgetting.

Answer 27

interference

Question 28

What type of memory is most affected by interference?

Answer 28

Both short-term and long-term memory can be affected by interference.

Question 29

Which type of interference is typically studied in laboratory settings?

Answer 29

Retroactive interference is often studied in controlled laboratory settings.

Question 30

What was the conclusion of the study by Underwood (1957) regarding proactive interference?

Answer 30

Underwood concluded that proactive interference could significantly impair memory performance over time.

Question 31

True or False: The more information you learn, the less likely you are to experience interference.

Answer 31

False.

Question 32

What is an implication of interference theory for studying?

Answer 32

Students should avoid cramming and instead space out their study sessions to minimize interference.

Question 33

Fill in the blank: Proactive interference can make it difficult to learn ______ information.

Answer 33

new

Question 34

What is the 'release from proactive interference' phenomenon?

Answer 34

It refers to the observation that performance improves when the material being learned is sufficiently different from previously learned material.

Question 35

What is the impact of learning similar subjects back-to-back?

Answer 35

Learning similar subjects back-to-back can increase the likelihood of proactive interference.

Question 36

What type of interference can occur when learning a new skill that is similar to a previously learned skill?

Answer 36

Proactive interference.

Question 37

What is the 'interference paradigm' in memory research?

Answer 37

It is a method of studying interference by manipulating the type of material learned and measuring recall.

Question 38

Fill in the blank: Interference is often tested using ______ tasks.

Answer 38

recall

Question 39

What is the effect of interference on memory retrieval?

Answer 39

Interference can lead to slower retrieval times and increased errors in recall.

Question 40

True or False: All types of memory are equally susceptible to interference.

Answer 40

False.

Question 41

What is the 'interference effect'?

Answer 41

It is the phenomenon where learning new information negatively impacts the ability to recall previously learned information.

Question 42

What is the main takeaway from research on interference and forgetting?

Answer 42

Interference is a significant factor in forgetting and can be managed through strategic learning techniques.

Question 43

Fill in the blank: The interference theory suggests that memories can ______ with each other.

Answer 43

compete

Question 44

What is the relevance of interference theory to everyday memory challenges?

Answer 44

It helps explain why people often forget information when learning similar new information shortly after.

Question 45

What did the research by Tulving (1974) contribute to the understanding of interference?

Answer 45

Tulving's research highlighted the importance of context and cues in mitigating interference.

Question 46

Fill in the blank: Memory interference can be minimized by ensuring that information is ______.

Answer 46

distinct

Question 47

What are the implications of interference theory for educational practices?

Answer 47

Educators should design curricula that reduce similarity between topics to minimize interference.

Question 48

What is the effect of interference on long-term retention of information?

Answer 48

Interference can significantly hinder long-term retention and recall of information.

Question 49

True or False: Interference only occurs in human memory.

Answer 49

False.

Question 50

What is the significance of the 'list-learning paradigm' in studying interference?

Answer 50

It allows researchers to systematically investigate how different lists of items can interfere with each other.

Question 51

Fill in the blank: Research on interference supports the idea that memory is ______ rather than a perfect recording.

Answer 51

reconstructive

Question 52

What is a common method used to demonstrate retroactive interference?

Answer 52

Learning a list of words followed by a different list and testing recall for the first list.

Question 53

What is the 'forgetting curve' and its relation to interference?

Answer 53

The forgetting curve illustrates how memory retention declines over time, and interference can exacerbate this decline.

Question 54

Fill in the blank: The phenomenon where memory performance improves when learning different types of material is known as ______ from proactive interference.

Answer 54

release

Question 55

What is the role of context in memory retrieval and interference?

Answer 55

Contextual cues can help mitigate the effects of interference by providing retrieval aids.

Question 56

How does interference theory explain the difficulty in recalling older memories after learning new ones?

Answer 56

New memories may disrupt the pathways or cues needed to retrieve older memories.

Question 57

What is the importance of understanding interference in cognitive psychology?

Answer 57

It provides insights into the mechanisms of memory and forgetting, aiding in the development of effective learning strategies.

Question 58

Fill in the blank: The phenomenon that describes forgetting due to the presence of similar information is called ______.

Answer 58

interference

Question 59

What are strategies to minimize interference during studying?

Answer 59

Using varied study materials, spacing study sessions, and incorporating different learning methods.

Question 60

What can be done to enhance memory retention in light of interference?

Answer 60

Employing mnemonic devices and ensuring adequate sleep can enhance memory retention.

Question 61

True or False: Memory interference is a phenomenon that only affects academic learning.

Answer 61

False.

Question 62

What is the relationship between interference and memory consolidation?

Answer 62

Interference can disrupt the consolidation process, hindering the transition of memories from short-term to long-term storage.

Question 63

Fill in the blank: The study of interference helps us understand the ______ of memory.

Answer 63

limitations