interference theory

+ evaluation

what is inteference?

forgetting due to two pieces of information/memories conflicting with each other

• this causes one or both memories to be forgotten or distorted

which memory store does interference mainly affect?

long term memory

what are the two types of inteference?

proactive and retroactive

what is proactive interference?

when an older memory disrupts the recall of a newer memory, causing the newer memory to be forgotten

what is retroactive interference?

when a newer memory disrupts the recall of an older memory, causing the older memory to be forgotten

what psychologists conducted a study on the effect of similarity on interference?

McGeoch and McDonald

McGeoch and McDonald study - method

• studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials

• participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them with 100% accuracy, then learned a new list

• there were 6 groups of participants and each group learned different lists

  • synonyms, antonyms, words unrelated to the original ones, nonsense syllables, three-digit numbers, and a group with no new list

McGeoch and McDonald study - findings

• when participants then recalled original list of words, their performance depended on nature of second list

• the group that had synonyms produced the worst recall

  • this showed that interference is strongest when memories are similar

what are the strengths and weaknesses of interference?

strengths:

• supporting evidence from lab studies

• real life application in studies

weaknesses:

• artificial materials used in studies

• time between learning information and recalling in studies is unrealistic

supporting evidence from lab studies

• lab studies by McGeoch and McDonald took place in a lab where extraneous variables could be controlled

• study shows both types of interference are very likely to be common ways we forget info from LTM

• studies therefore increase validity of interference as an explanation of forgetting

real life application in studies

• study by Baddeley and Hitch considered interference in everyday situations

  • presented a series of adverts to participants and asked them to recall details from them

  • in some cases, they had difficulties recalling earlier adverts, in other cases they had difficulty recalling older adverts

• this shows interference explanations can apply to everyday situations and improves validity of the theory

artificial materials used in studies

• lab studies lack real world applicability as stimulus materials used in most studies are lists of words, letters, or numbers which aren’t realistic compared to what we have to remember in everyday life

• use of artificial tasks means interference may not be as likely an explanation for forgetting in everyday life as it is in a lab

time between learning information and recalling in studies is unrealistic

• lab experiments take place over a short amount of time

• participant may have to learn a list of words, learn a second list 20 minutes later, then recall one of the lists a few minutes after that

• doesn’t reflect real life as we don’t usually learn info then recall it in a short time period, so reduces validity