A01

• Define interference

  When one memory disrupts your ability to recall another memory.
• When is interference more likely to occur?

  It's more likely to happen when the memories are similar.
• State the two types of interference

  1. Retroactive interference

  2. Proactive interference
• Define retroactive interference

  Forgetting due to new memories disrupting your ability to recall old memories
• Define proactive interference

  Forgetting due to old memories disrupting your ability to recall new memories
• Name and outline a scientific experiment which shows evidence for interference

  McGeoch and McDonald (1931):

  - three groups given word list A to learn, then had a 10 min interval where they had to memorise a new list

  group 1: list of synonyms to words in list A

  group 2: list of nonsense syllables

  group 3: list of numbers

  - participants then had to recall words in list A

  - group 1 had worst recall (12%) compared to most effective recall in group 3 (37%)
• Name and outline a real-life study of interference

  Baddeley and Hitch (1977):

  - asked rugby players to remember names of teams they'd played in that season week by week

  - not all players played in every match

  - those players who had played the most matches forgot the most opponent teams as the matches had interfered with their memory
• Which type of interference can be seen in the real-life study of interference?

  Retroactive interference
• State which type of interference is occurring when you learn to drive on the left hand side of the road and when you go to Spain you drive on the left hand side instead of the right.

  Proactive interference
• State which type of interference is occurring when you learn German and then French and when you go to recall German you always recall French.

  Retroactive interference