Interference Theory

Question 1

What is interference?

Answer 1

An explanation for forgetting where one memory blocks another, causing one or both memories to be distorted so they cannot be recalled accurately.

Question 2

Proactive interference

Answer 2

previous learning interferes with later learning

old → new

• Your teacher has learned so many names in the past that she has difficulty remembering the names of her current class

Question 3

Retroactive interference

Answer 3

later learning interferes with earlier learning

new → old

• Your teacher has learned so many names this year that she has difficulty remembering the names of the students last year

Question 4

KEY STUDIES

Answer 4

EVIDENCE FOR INTERFERENCE THEORY:

• Underwood and Postman
• McGeoch and McDonald

Question 5

UNDERWOOD AND POSTMAN

Answer 5

Underwood and Postman

• ppts are asked to learn a series of word pairs so they can be presented with the stimulus word and recall its response word
• experimental group learnt list AB then list AC
• control group learnt only list AB
• experimental group recall of AB was lower than the control group because of retroactive interference
• another control group only learnt list AC
• when recalling AC experimental’s recall was lower showing proactive interference
• the control group had the highest recall rates as they had no interference = interference may be an explanation for forgetting

Question 6

MCGEOCH AND MCDONALD

Answer 6

McGeoch and McDonald

( EFFECTS OF SIMILARITY )

• 6 groups learnt 2 of 6 types of lists
• similar words like synonyms showed less recall = greater interference
• dissimilar words/no new word list had less/no interference so could recall more words from the original list
• retroactive interference as new list affects old list
• more similar = greater interference

Question 7

EVALUATION (3)

Answer 7

EVALUATION

• Evidence from lab studies
• Real life studies
• Artificial materials

Question 8

EVAL: Evidence from lab studies

Answer 8

• EVIDENCE FROM LAB STUDIES
  
  • McGeoch and McDonald , Underwood and Postman
  show that both types of interference are very likely to be common ways we forgetinformation from LTM+ Lab experiments have controlled variables in the research supporting the case that interference is valid for explaining some forgetting

Question 9

EVAL: Real-life studies

Answer 9

• REAL-LIFE STUDIES
  
  • Players asked to recall names of teams played in a rugby season
  the players who played the most games had the most interference = worst recall+ everyday situation adds external validity

Question 10

Eval: Artificial materials

Answer 10

• ARTIFICIAL MATERIALS
  
  • stimulus are word lists and pairs which is distant from things we learn and try to remember in everyday life ( faces, birthdays..)
  • interference is more likely in a lab and may not be as likely an explanation for forgetting in everyday life = findings lack ecological validity

Reason for forgetting = insufficient cues

Lack of accessibility in LTM