Forgetting explanations - Interference + Eval Flashcards
(16 cards)
What was forgetting first related to
gradual decay of memory over time
What was forgetting then later related to
interference
what are the two types of interference
- retroactive interference
- proactive interference
what is retroactive interference
new learning interferes with our ability to recall previously held information
retroactive interference - study M + P
Muller and Pilzecker (1900)
Muller and Pilzecker (1900)
- participants remember nonsense syllables for 6 minutes
- retention interval
- then recall list
-other condition - during interval (intervening task takes place - describing three pictures) worse results that other condition
what is proactive interference
previous learning interferes with our ability to recall new learning
proactive interference = U
Underwood (1957)
Underwood (1957)
Participants learn word list
- 10 lists or more
- more they have to learn the less they can recall (20% recalled)
- less to learn - 1 list (70% recalled)
what is the effect of the type of interfering task (McGeoch + McDonald)
- similarity of materials
- participants given 10 adjectives
- group A = another task to remember synonyms of adj
- group B = another task - nonsense numbers
Group B better recall
what is Availability / Accessibility
whether or not interference causes a memory to disappear or if the effects are temporary
available = if its even there to recall
access = if your able to recall at that time
Ceraso (1967)
exposed participants to interference
- tested for availability - recall task
- tested for accessibility - recognition task
- post 24hrs - recognition (good) recall (bad)
- therefore info was temporarily inaccessible not permanently lost / unavailable
Eval = good
- many psychologists studied - reliable
- Danaher et al = advertisers - ecological validity
- useful - applicable in real life
Eval = bad
- most research is lab based - low mundane realism
- HOWEVER - ecological validity promoted by Danaher etc.
- doesn’t really account for how it variates between individuals - too simplistic less useful (reductionist)
Supporting research (Postman 1960)
retroactive
paired words list
C1 = learn another list - second word = different
C2 = control no other task
results = C2 BETTER RECALL
Supporting research
(Baddeley and Hitch 1977)
ecological
rugby club
- test recall ability to remember names of other clubs
- all players playing since season start however EV - injury - played less
- those who faced more opponents = no injury recalled wore than those who played less
