A01

• What does interference mean?

  When two pieces of memory are in conflict
• When does forgetting occur?

  In the LTM because we can't get access to memories even though they're available
• When does proactive interference occur?

  When an older memory disrupts a newer one
• What is an example of proactive interference?

  When a teacher learns many names in the past and can't remember the names of her current class
• When does retroactive interference occur?

  When a newer memory disrupts an older one
• What is an example of retroactive interference?

  When a teacher learns many new names this year and can't remember the names of her current class
• When can interference get worse?

  When the memories are similar
• Why is interference worse in proactive interference?

  Previously stored information makes new information more difficult to store
• Why is the interference in retroactive interference worse?

  New information overwrites previous memories which are similar
• Who conducted the study on the effects of similarity?

  McGeoch and McDonald (31)
• What were the Ps asked to do?

  Asked to learn a list of words to 100% accuracy
• What were they then asked to do?

  Learn a new list - this list varied in the degree to which it was similar to the old
• What are the 6 different groups?

  1. Synonyms: same meanings to the OG
  2. Antonyms: opposite meanings to the OG
  3. Unrelated: unrelated words
  4. Consonant syllables
  5. 3-digit numbers
  6. no new list: Ps rested (control group)
• What did they find?

  • Performance depended on the nature of the second list
  • Most similar material produced the worst recall
  • When the Ps were given very different material such as 3-digit numbers, the mean number of items recalled increased
• What does this show about interference?

  • Interference is strongest when the memories are similar
  • In group 1 it's likely that the words with the same meanings as the OG list blocked access or that the new material became confused with the old material