Explanations for forgetting - Interference theory

Why do people forget things?

Interference

What is interference?

2 pieces of info conflict with each other resulting in forgetting one or one getting distorted

What are the 2 types of interference?

Proactive

Retroactive

What is proactive interference?

Old info interferes with learning of new info

What is retroactive interference?

Learning of new info interferes with recall of old info

What type of interference is when Learning of new info interferes with recall of old info?

Retroactive

What type of interference is when Old info interferes with learning of new info?

Proactive

Who did research on interference theory?

McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931)

What did McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931) study?

Theory of interference?

When did McGeoch + Mcdonald do a study on theory of interference?

1931

Who did a study on interference theory in 1931?

McGeoch + Mcdonald

What type of experiment was McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931)?

Lab experiment

What was the aim of McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931)?

Investigate whether interference effects forgetting in LTM

Method of McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931) (3)

- Ps had to learn a list of 10 adjectives until they could recall with 100% accuracy

- Then learnt a new list

- 6 different conditions such as synonyms or antonyms of original list

Results of McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931)

Performance depended on nature of second list

Most similar had worst recall

What had the worst recall in McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931)?

Most similar words

What did performance depend on in McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931)?

Nature of second list

Conclusion of McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931)

Interference is strongest when memories are similar

Likely group that had synonyms that these blocked access or new material became confused with old

Why did the group with synonyms in McGeoch + Mcdonald (1931) have worst recall?

New info blocked access or became confused