Memory 2 - Forgetting: Interference theory

?
  • Created by: amp2410
  • Created on: 07-03-22 12:00
Define interference
One memory disrupts the ability to recall another. Most likely when two memories have similarity.
1 of 14
What are the two types of interference?
Retroactive Interference
Proactive Interference
2 of 14
What is retroactive interference?
Current attempts to learn something new interferes with past learning.
New info replaces old info.
3 of 14
What is proactive interference?
Past learning interferes with current attempts to learn something new.
Old info replaces new info.
Pro no new.
4 of 14
Example Q: Jack has recently got a new mobile number and can finally remember it. After a few months, he is asked his old one and can no longer recall it.
What type of interference and why?
Retroactive.
Can't remember past learning (old phone number)
5 of 14
Example Q: Michelle learned Spanish at primary school. At secondary school she learns French and Spanish. One day the French teacher asks her to say 'hello' and she says 'hola'.
What type of interference and why?
Proactive.
Replacing new info 'bonjour' with old info 'hola'
6 of 14
How can inference be further worsened?
When the info is similar eg two phone numbers/ French and German vocab
7 of 14
When may interference be less likely to occur?
When there is a gap in instances of learning
8 of 14
Evaluation 1: Postman and Underwood (1960)
Procedure
P's divided into 2 groups.
Group A learned word pairs eg cat-tree AND word pairs where words different eg cat-glass
Group B asked to learn ONLY FIRST LIST
Both then asked to recall first list
9 of 14
Evaluation 1: Postman and Underwood (1960)
Findings/Conclusion
Group B recall was more accurate than group A
Suggests learning items in second list interfered with P's ability to recall first list
10 of 14
Evaluation 1: Postman and Underwood (1960)
Does this support pro or retroactive interference?
What are the limitations?
Retroactive - 2nd interfered with first, forgot old when learned new
Lacks ecological validity - not reflective of everyday memory usage
11 of 14
Evaluation 2: Baddeley and Hitch (1977)
Procedure
Ps rugby players asked to recall names of teams played over season
Some players had played all games - some missed a few due to injury
Time interval between start/end of season same for everyone
12 of 14
Evaluation 2: Baddeley and Hitch (1977)
Findings/Conclusion
Players who played the most games forgot proportionally more - recall for last game played equally good - whether this was last week or last month
Ps struggled to recall past games due to newer games played
13 of 14
Evaluation 2: Baddeley and Hitch (1977)
Does this support pro or retroactive interference?
What are the strengths?
Retroactive interference
Natural experiment - more realistic use of memory - increases validity
Possibly preferred over Postman
14 of 14

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What are the two types of interference?

Back

Retroactive Interference
Proactive Interference

Card 3

Front

What is retroactive interference?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What is proactive interference?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Example Q: Jack has recently got a new mobile number and can finally remember it. After a few months, he is asked his old one and can no longer recall it.
What type of interference and why?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Memory resources »